Less than two weeks before the Breeders’ Cup, a quartet of hopefuls turned in stiff 6-furlong works Oct. 19 at Santa Anita Park.None went faster than sweet Azteca.
With jockey Juan Hernandez aboard, Sweet Azteca was clocked officially in a swift 1:10 4/5. Trainer Richard Baltas timed the drill in 1:11 1/5.
Also working six furlongs on the main track Sunday, all for trainer Bob Baffert, were Nysos (1:11 3/5), Nevada Beach (1:11 4/5), and Citizen Bull (1:12 3/5). Nysos and Citizen Bull are each targeting the Breeders’ Cup Dirt Mile (G1), while Nevada Beach is slated to run in the Breeders’ Cup Classic (G1).
As for Sweet Azteca, she is ticketed for the Breeders’ Cup Filly & Mare Sprint (G1) at 7 furlongs Nov. 1, Sunday’s drill was her second as being forced to miss work in late September due to illness.
“I wanted a good work from her,” Baltas said. “She did a little blow at the end, but that’s fine, she needed it. She missed a work. Now we’re two weeks out and I think this puts us where we need to be.”
Sweet Azteca is perfect in two starts this year having won the Great Lady M. (G2) around two turns at Los Alamitos Race Course in July and the Rancho Bernardo Handicap (G3) going 7 furlongs at Del Mar Aug. 24. She returned to the work tab 28 days later Sept. 21 but then had a 20-day gap before working again Oct. 11.
“She wasn’t real sick, her blood work was good. She was just sick enough not to work,” Baltas said.
A 5-year-old mare by Sharp Azteca, Sweet Azteca is campaigned by breeder Pamela C. Zeibarth.She sports a sparkling 7-0-1 record from nine starts with $667,2
Breeders’ cup Updates: Vino Rosso, Bottle of Rouge, and Motorious Prepare
Recent workouts indicate strong preparation for several horses aiming for the Breeders’ Cup. Vino Rosso, a son of Vino Rosso’s Stallion Profile on BloodHorse, clocked a 5-furlong workout in :59 2/5, the second-fastest of 71 works at that distance.
Bottle of Rouge, fresh off a victory in the del Mar Debutante (G1) on September 6, is also gearing up for the Breeders’ Cup.
Motorious (GB), trained by Phil D’Amato, recorded a bullet workout on the training track, completing 5 furlongs in :59 1/5 – the fastest of 15 works at the distance. The 7-year-old gelding, by Muhaarar (GB)’s Profile on BloodHorse, is preparing for his third attempt at winning the Breeders’ cup Turf Sprint (G1T). Motorious has had a successful year, winning both the Daytona Stakes (G3T) at Santa Anita in June and the Green Flash (G3T) at Del Mar on August 30 (via disqualification).
This details has been edited for clarity by BloodHorse Staff.