By J.N. Campbell
Collecting yet another graded stakes trophy for her case, Sweet Azteca (Sharp Azteca–So Sweetitiz, by Grand Slam) took the GIII Rancho Bernardo Stakes at Del Mar for the third straight year on Sunday.
The race was also part of the Breeders' Cup Dirt Dozen Bonus Series heading toward the GI Breeders' Cup Filly & Mare Sprint, that will be run at Keeneland Oct. 31.
Sweet Azteca's victory earned her an additional $15,000 toward the $30,000 entrance fee for the $1-million race.
Victorious in her sole start at three for trainer Michael McCarthy, the homebred nabbed four of six starts in 2024–including the GI Beholder Mile over favored Adare Manor. The winner in the 6 1/2-furlong GII Great Lady M Stakes at Los Alamitos, she added her first Rancho Bernardo before tiring to finish a well-beaten fourth in the GIII Chillingworth Stakes at Santa Anita.
The top-class mare in California followed the same path the next season and won the Great Lady M again in 2025. Sweet Azteca aimed for the Breeders' Cup after the second Rancho Bernardo score, but she was forced to scratch before her big moment at Del Mar. Her trainer Richard Baltas announced a week later that the mare would remain in his care.
Off her third Great Lady M victory July 4, the heavy 1-5 favorite here used her speed to keep pace with Thermal (Nyquist), who as the 2-1 second choice was intent on making the lead. Sweet Azteca had plenty in the tank though and she put away her rival with a furlong left to sail home a no-doubt winner. Thermal was the runner-up.
“Juan [Hernandez] was saying she relaxed nice for him, she wasn't pulling as hard,” said trainer Richard Baltas. “She did whatever he wanted. Juan rode the perfect race and got the job done. I was worried about something happening with her standing in the gate too long but she's been standing really good lately and didn't move a muscle. I'm glad it's over. She ran like I knew she would.”
Pedigree Notes:
Sweet Azteca is the lone Grade I winner for 2017 GI Cigar Mile winner Sharp Azteca, who stands at Shizunai Stallion Station in Japan. Sweet Azteca, a third generation homebred for Pamela Cee Ziebarth, is out of the Grand Slam mare So Sweetitiz, herself a multiple stakes winner for Ziebarth.
The winner's dam is responsible for 3-year-old colt Under the Big Sky (Tonalist). She handed Sweet Azteca a full-sister in 2024 and foaled a filly by Epicenter last spring. So Sweetitiz was entered in Essential Quality's book for next term.
As for Sweet Azteca's fourth dam that is Cee's Song (Seattle Song). She raced for Zeibarth's late mother Cecilia Straub Rubens, and produced Horse of the Year and dual Breeders' Cup Classic hero Tiznow, plus multiple graded stakes winner Budroyale–both full-brothers to Sweet Azteca's third dam Tizsweet.
Brilliant SWEET AZTECA won the $100,000 Rancho Bernardo Stakes (G3) for the third straight year. @JJHernandezS19 in the irons on the Richard Baltas trainee, who is by Sharp Azteca.
Her record is now 9 for 11 lifetime! pic.twitter.com/99RzgkdoxR
— FanDuel Racing (@FanDuel_Racing) August 16, 2026
Sunday, Del Mar
RANCHO BERNARDO S.-GIII, $100,000, Del Mar, 8-16, 3yo/up, f/m, 6 1/2f, 1:16.51, ft.
1–SWEET AZTECA, 125, m, 6, by Sharp Azteca
1st Dam: So Sweetitiz (MSW, $180,480), by Grand
Slam
2nd Dam: Sweetitiz, by El Prado (Ire)
3rd Dam: Tizsweet, by Cee's Tizzy
O/B-Pamela Cee Ziebarth (KY); T-Richard Baltas; J-Juan J.
Hernandez. $60,000. Lifetime Record: GISW, 11-9-0-1,
$847,200. Werk Nick Rating: A++. Click for the
eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree or the free
Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree.
2–Thermal, 122, m, 5, Nyquist–Full Tap, by Tapit. 1ST
GRADED BLACK TYPE. ($625,000 Ylg '22 FTSAUG). O-By
Talla Racing LLC and John W. Sadler Racing, Inc.; B-Anderson
Farms Ont. Inc. (ON); T-John W. Sadler. $20,000.
3–Antifona (Fr), 122, m, 5, Recoletos (Fr)–Survived (GB), by
Kyllachy (GB). (€18,000 RNA Ylg '22 ARQDOY). O-Holly
Wilson and David Wilson; B-SARL Darpat France (FR);
T-Vladimir Cerin. $12,000.
Margins: 4 3/4, 3 1/4, NK. Odds: 0.30, 2.00, 22.70.
Also Ran: Fire Ban, Catalina Cocktail. Scratched: Sweet Gal of Mine.
Click for the Equibase.com chart or the TJCIS.com PPS. VIDEO, sponsored by FanDuel Racing.
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