Sweet Azteca, Tamara are scratched from BC Filly & Mare Sprint

Sweet Azteca and Tamara, the top two choices for the Breeders' Cup Filly & Mare Sprint, are being scratched from the race, according to Equibase listings.

Trained by Richard Baltas, 5-year-old Sweet Azteca returned from ankle surgery with wins in the Grade 2 Great Lady M in July and most recently the Rancho Bernardo Handicap (G3) in August. Owned and bred by Pamela Cee Ziebarth, she has lost only twice in nine career starts. She was the 2-1 favorite on the morning line for the Filly & Mare Sprint.

4-year-old Tamara, trained by Richard Mandella, has only one start this year, a win in the Oct. 4 Chillingworth (G3). She won her first two career starts at age 2, then finished seventh in the 2023 Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies. She returned for one start last year, a runner-up effort in an optional-claiming allowance at Del Mar. She was the 7-2 second choice on the morning line for Saturday's race.

Bob Baffert's Hope Road was the third choice on the morning line for the Filly & Mare Sprint at 4-1.