Sweet Azteca proves worth in Rancho Bernardo Handicap at Del Mar

DEL MAR — The betting numbers on Sweet Azteca in Sunday’s Grade III Rancho Bernardo Handicap were as daunting as the 4-year-old filly’s seven-length victory in the 6½-furlong sprint for older fillies and mares.

Sweet Azteca, who had jockey Flavien Prat fly in from Saratoga to participate in this romp, paid $2.20, $2.10 and $2.10.

But 72.6 percent of the $201,000 wagered in the win pool was placed on the gray daughter of Sharp Azteca. Seventy-four percent of the $115,000 in the place pool was put down on Sweet Azteca. And a stunning 82 percent of the $303,000 in the show pool went with Sweet Azteca.

Sweet Azteca went off as the 1-9 favorite — the steepest favorite of the summer meeting — and never left any doubt that her supporters would be heading back to the windows to cash in.

Sweet Azteca quickly grabbed the lead after breaking fifth in the field of six and steadily drew away to an easy victory over Chimosa — the only horse to have a win in a race entered by Sweet Azteca.

Sunday’s win was the fourth straight for Sweet Azteca — and the third straight in a graded stakes race. Trainer Mike McCarthy used the race as a trial run for the Breeders’ Cup at Del Mar in November.

“She was awfully aggressive today,” said McCarthy of Sweet Azteca. “She bounced out there and Prat was wonderful just getting her to settle down on the backside. I wasn’t sure if someone was going to try and get in front of her.”

If they tried, no one could. Sweet Azteca added to her margin at each pole — tacking on another 3½ lengths in the stretch.

Said Prat: “She was just cruising. There were no special instructions. Just ride her.”

Chismosa (Tiago Pereira) finished a nose ahead of Anywho (Juan Hernandez) for second.

The win was Prat’s 95th at Del Mar, tying him with Alex Solis for the sixth-most in track history.

Packed weekend

Saturday’s 34th Pacific Classic is the premier event of Del Mar’s summer meeting.

But the 1¼-mile, $1-million Grade I event is but one of 10 stakes races at the seaside oval over the Labor Day weekend.

The undercard to the Pacific Classic will include two Grade II and two Grade III stakes, with three defending champions expected to run. There will be three stakes races on Sunday and two on Sept. 2.

Two defending champs return in Saturday’s Grade IIs. Gold Phoenix is hoping to win the 1 3/8-mile Del Mar Handicap on the turf for a third straight year and automatically qualify for a berth in the Breeders’ Cup Turf. And Du Jour will defend his title in the Del Mar Mile on the turf and guarantee a return to the Breeders’ Cup Mile on grass.

Defending champion Motorious is expected back in the Grade III Green Flash, a five-furlong turf sprint. The other Saturday stakes race is the Grade III Torrey Pines, a race for 3-year-old fillies that could include Santa Anita Oaks winner Nothing Like You.

Sunday’s feature will be the 80th running of the Grade II  Del Mar Derby, a 1 1/8-mile turf test for 3-year-olds that could feature La Jolla Handicap champion Stay Hot. However, the more interesting race Sunday could be the $125,000 Shared Belief, a 1-mile dirt test that could include Bob Baffert’s Arkansas Derby champion Muth and the Phil D’Amato-trained Kentucky Derby runner Stronghold.

Monday features a pair of ungraded, $100,000 stakes — the six-furlong Generous Portion sprint for 2-year-olds and the 1-mile Tranquility Lake for older fillies and mares.

Classic workouts

Nine Pacific Classic nominees worked Saturday or Sunday.

All three of Baffert’s horses worked Saturday. Adare Manor went six furlongs in 1:12.40, Muth went five furlongs in :58.40 and Reincarnate did five furlongs in 1:01.20. But the trainer remained mum on who will be going besides Reincarnate next Saturday.

• Trainer Doug O’Neill worked both his Pacific Classic nominees five furlongs Saturday – Mixto in 1:00.40 and Katonah in 1:00.80.

• Other Saturday work: San Diego Handicap champion Dr. Venkman went five furlongs in 1:01.80 for trainer Mark Glatt. Express Train went five furlongs in :59.40 for trainer John Shirreffs. Full Serrano went six furlongs in 1:11.40 for trainer John Sadler.

• None Above the Law worked five furlongs in 59:20 Friday. Midnight Mammoth, the winner of last month’s Grade III Cougar II Stakes, worked four furlongs in :47:40 Sunday morning. Il Miracolo arrived from Kentucky Saturday afternoon. Meanwhile, Clooney was withdrawn.

Notable

Showers, a 2-year-old daughter of Ghostzapper who was a $240,000 purchase as a yearling, won a 1-mile, maiden special weight race for Baffert and jockey Juan Hernandez as an even-money favorite. She had run second in her debut at Del Mar on Aug. 10.

• Hernandez had three wins Sunday — Showers in the opener, Capital Outlay ($15.20 in the third) and Handy Dandy ($11.40) in the seventh — to increase his jockey-leading margin over Umberto Rispoli to nine wins (32-23).