Sweet Azteca, a lightly raced 4-year-old filly, led from start to finish to win the GI B. Wayne Hughes Beholder Mile S. at Santa Anita, beating more experienced rivals including last summer’s GI Clement L. Hirsch S. winner Adare Manor and ‘TDN Rising Star’ Green Up.
‣ Sweet Azteca, a lightly raced 4-year-old filly, led from start to finish to win the GI B. Wayne Hughes Beholder Mile S. at Santa Anita, marking her first Grade I win against more experienced rivals.
‣ The victory is a significant achievement for Sweet Azteca’s trainer Michael McCarthy, who previously won the Beholder Mile in 2020 with Ce Ce, another lightly raced horse, indicating a successful training strategy for this specific race.
‣ Sweet Azteca is a third-generation homebred for Pamela Cee Ziebarth, showcasing a rich pedigree with notable ancestors including Horse of the Year Tiznow and a family history of Grade I victories, highlighting the importance of lineage in thoroughbred racing success.
🍭 How sweet it is! SWEET AZTECA was more than up to the task, taking them all the way in Saturday’s GI B. Wayne Hughes Beholder Mile at @santaanitapark. pic.twitter.com/iDV7G9HxF6
— TDN (@theTDN) March 10, 2024
Oh boy, Sweet Azteca really showed ’em, didn’t she? Against a field that was anything but green, this lightly raced filly, just a sprightly 4 years old, took the lead and, well, never looked back. It was at the GI B. Wayne Hughes Beholder Mile S. at Santa Anita on a sunny Saturday that she shone.
And who was trailing behind? Last summer’s hotshot, the GI Clement L. Hirsch S. winner, Adare Manor. Yep, the even-money favorite. Uncle Mo’s pride. But not quite prideful enough this time, as she only managed second place. And let’s not forget about ‘TDN Rising Star’ and the Pumpkin Pie S. victor, Green Up. An East Coast shipper, no less, snagging third.
The clock stopped at 1:36.40. For a mile, that’s not too shabby, eh?
Sweet Azteca, a homebred darling for Pamela Cee Ziebarth, was off like a rocket. She set the pace, quick and confident, with splits of :23.40 and :47.40. All while making it look easy. Green Up tried to keep up, lurking close but never quite catching up. As they hit the final turn, Sweet Azteca was already dreaming of the finish line, leading by three.
Adare Manor? She tried, bless her heart. Zoomed past Green Up in a last-ditch effort to catch our leader. But no cigar. She was left hanging three-quarters of a length behind.
Flavien Prat, the jockey steering this victory, had a thing or two to say. “Felt like she was sprinting at first,” he mused. But around that turn? She chilled out. And when it was crunch time, she just… knew. Picked up the pace all on her own.
Last year, Sweet Azteca was just dipping her toes in the racing world. Made a splash during Derby week at Churchill Downs, then took a little breather. Came back on New Year’s at the GIII Las Flores S. at Santa Anita, only to get outpaced for third. But then, bam! A 12-length win in February. And now, the Beholder Mile champion. First time going two turns, too. Talk about a glow-up.
Michael McCarthy, the man behind the magic, had pulled off a Beholder Mile win before, back in 2020 with Ce Ce. Seems like he’s got a knack for prepping these lightly raced gals for the big leagues.
Now, onto some pedigree gossip. Sweet Azteca’s dad, Sharp Azteca, is making waves over in Japan these days. But he’s left a legacy here, with Sweet Azteca being his first graded winner. And her mom, So Sweetitiz, comes from a line of champs too, thanks to Grand Slam.
Sweet Azteca’s not just any horse. She’s a third-gen homebred for Ziebarth, tracing back to the legendary Cee’s Song. That mare’s legacy? Just a little something like Horse of the Year Tiznow and a few other stars.
And the family’s still growing! So Sweetitiz has got a couple of young’uns coming up, and she’s expecting another full sibling to Sweet Azteca next year.
How sweet it is, indeed! Sweet Azteca’s win at Santa Anita was something to tweet about. The excitement, the speed, the triumph – it’s what racing dreams are made of. And on that note, let’s not forget the hard work, the strategy, and the heart it takes to reach that finish line first. Hats off to Sweet Azteca and her team. What a race!
