Sweet Azteca Class of Rancho Bernardo Field

Grade 1 winner Sweet Azteca  is the horse to beat in the Aug. 25 $100,000 Rancho Bernardo Handicap (G3) at Del Mar.

A field of seven fillies and mares 3-year-olds and up will vie in the 6 1/2-furlong Rancho Bernardo, which is part of the Breeders' Cup Dirt Dozen Bonus Series, awarding $15,000 to the winner, $7,500 to the runner-up, and $3,750 to the third-place finisher to apply toward entry fees for the $1 million Breeders' Cup Filly and Mare Sprint (G1) Nov. 2 at Del Mar. 

Pamela Ziebarth's Sweet Azteca has made a big splash in a short amount of time for trainer Michael McCarthy. The 4-year-old Sharp Azteca  filly has been spectacular in her last three starts—all wins—topped by a front-running victory over multiple grade 1 winner Adare Manor  in the Beholder Mile Stakes (G1) in March. Cutting back to 6 1/2 furlongs in her last outing proved no problem for the gray/roan filly, and she rolled home by five lengths in track-record time in the July 6 Great Lady M Stakes (G2) at Los Alamitos Race Course.

Flavien Prat, who has ridden primarily in New York this summer, flies into town to ride Sweet Azteca. The filly carries the top weight of 126 Sunday, giving 5-10 pounds to her competitors.

Desert Stormer Stakes winner Chismosa , a disappointing seventh in the Great Lady M, will be looking to rebound against the heavy favorite for trainer Jaime Renella.