Grade 1 winner Sharp Azteca to stand at stud in Kentucky

Three Chimneys Farm announced Saturday that 2017 Cigar Mile (G1) winner Sharp Azteca will take up stud duty there for a fee of $10,000 LFSN.

The model of consistency as a racehorse, Sharp Azteca was on the board 14 times in 17 starts, with career earnings of $2,406,740. A five time Graded Stakes Winner, he won the 2017 Cigar Mile by a commanding 5 1/4 lengths over Grade 1 winners Practical Joke and Mind Your Biscuits. In that race Sharp Azteca ran a negative 2 and ¼ Ragozin, the fastest Ragozin in 2017 at a mile and the co-fastest  of the year at any distance, equaling the number awarded Arrogate in the Dubai World Cup (G1). 

Sharp Azteca posted a 115 Beyer Speed Figure in the Grade 1 win in the Cigar Mile. His performance in the Kelso (G2), also at a mile, was nothing short of spectacular. His four length victory over Grade 1 performers Divining Rod and Tom’s Ready in 1:34 flat earned him a 112 Beyer.

As a 3-year-old, Sharp Azteca impressively won the Pat Day Mile (G3) in 1:34 1/5th as he defeated Grade 1 winners Imperial Hint and Ralis.

Sharp Azteca’s valiant runner up performance in the Breeders’ Cup Dirt Mile (GI) to Battle of Midway, who ran a lifetime best minus 2 Ragozin, received a 132 Equibase Speed Figure, which is the highest of any horse retiring to stud for 2019.

Sharp Azteca is by champion sire Freud, a full brother to Giant’s Causeway, who also sired recent Grade 1 winner Fourstar Crook. He is out of the Saint Liam mare So Sharp, who is a half-sister to the dam of Graded Stakes winner Firing Line. The female family traces to Three Chimneys foundational mare and Grade 1 winner Gorgeous, as well as to Overbrook farm foundational mare and Grade 1 winner Seaside Attraction. 

Three Chimneys Chairman Goncalo Torrealba stated, “Sharp Azteca was brilliantly fast, and when you watch his races, you will see speed, toughness and tenacity, all three of which are elements we like in a stallion prospect.  We believe that Sharp Azteca can be another offshoot branch of the Storm Cat line through Giant Causeway’s full brother Freud, similar to what Harlan, Harlan’s Holiday, and Into Mischief did.” 

Doug Cauthen said, “When you see Sharp Azteca, he’s absolutely striking. He is big and powerful and is a true conformation stallion. He was a top class miler who ran superbly in every jurisdiction he competed at- Churchill, Belmont, in the Breeders’ Cup at Del Mar, and in Dubai -- it didn’t matter. He was simply a runner and offers breeders a great value opportunity. Sharp Azteca is the kind that can get them a great looking sales horse and a proper racehorse down the road.”