Sharp Azteca Rolls to Cigar Mile Score

Sharp Azteca is a bridesmaid no longer.

After runner-up finishes in three grade 1 events, including the Nov. 3 Las Vegas Breeders' Cup Dirt Mile (G1) last out, Ivan Rodriguez's 4-year-old son of Freud  landed his first top-level score in impressive fashion when he sailed clear in the $750,000 Cigar Mile Handicap Presented by NYRA Bets (G1) Dec. 2 at Aqueduct Racetrack.

Rolling home by 5 1/4 lengths over Mind Your Biscuits, a rival who bested him in one of those grade 1 attempts at the end of last year, 125-pound highweight Sharp Azteca completed a season in which he has finished first or second six times—with the lone outlier a third in Dubai in the Godolphin Mile Sponsored by Meydan Sobha (G1). Practical Joke  completed the trifecta.

"Everything with him is details," trainer Jorge Navarro said. "We paid attention to every little thing. We wanted to do the right thing. I knew we were sitting on that grade 1, and you know what? I wasn't expecting this big of a performance. He ran his eyes out. What else can I ask?"

Typically on or near the front end, Sharp Azteca broke alertly under Hall of Famer Javier Castellano—who was aboard the dark bay colt for the first time—and took up his characteristic position at the head of the field. But he was quickly joined on the front end by Seymourdini, a recent fourth in the Bold Ruler Handicap (G3), who edged ahead through an opening quarter-mile in :22.78 and a half-mile in :45.97 while chased by by West Coast shipper Americanize. Sharp Azteca was content to settle behind those two as the trio raced well ahead of the rest of the field up the backstretch.

"I thought he could (rate) until yesterday," Navarro said of the 8-5 favorite. "I watched two videos of him and he kept throwing his head up every time we tried to rate him. I mentioned it to Javier and I said, 'We are not going to get in your way. You do what you want to do.' The one thing I said is, 'Once you make your move, just go. Do not try to look pretty.' "

Castellano did just that, setting his mount down for the drive three-wide around the far turn. Head-to-head with Americanize as Seymourdini faded along the rail, Sharp Azteca shook off his competition for good at the top of the stretch and kicked clear under a light drive to finish the one-turn mile in 1:35.17.

"There was a lot of early speed with the horses in this race," Castellano said. "I was really impressed by the way he did it. I just asked him to win the race back, I didn't push him all the way. We've known this is a special horse for a long time."

Sharp Azteca was ridden in his past four starts by Paco Lopez, and other than a one-off ride by Joe Bravo in the 2016 Woody Stephens Stakes (G2), where he finished fourth, he was ridden by Edgard Zayas in every other outing.

"It was a decision of the owner (to change jockeys)," Navarro said. "We did what we thought was right for the horse. We believe he is one of the top horses in the nation. So, he needs one of the top riders."

Bred in Kentucky by Cloyce C. Clark out of the Saint Liam mare So Sharp, Sharp Azteca first went through the ring at the 2014 Ocala Breeders' Sales August yearling sale, where he was purchased for $35,000 by Blas Perez from Select Sales. Navarro selected him from the Ocala Breeders' Sales April 2015 spring sale of 2-year-olds in training, where he was a $220,000 purchase by Rodriguez's Gelfenstein Farm from de Meric Sales' consignment. He is the third North American top-level winner for Freud and his fourth overall.

"I picked him," Navarro said. "It means a lot (to win a grade 1)."

Sharp Azteca's connections will consider a run in the $16 million Pegasus World Cup Invitational Stakes (G1) Jan. 27 at Gulfstream Park.

"After this performance, why not?" Navarro said. "(But) we are going to see how he comes out of this first."

Sharp Azteca returned $5.50, $3.30, and $2.70, while Chad Summers-trained Mind Your Biscuits brought $6.40 and $3.80 at odds of 7-1 when he finished 2 3/4 lengths ahead of Practical Joke, who paid $2.70 at 5-2. 

"I have all the respect in the world for Sharp Azteca," Summers said. "Just following him all year long, I knew that was the horse to beat. I thought it was a two-horse race. It was; he got the jump on us and beat us today. We'll regroup from here for next year."

Americanize held on for fourth, and was followed by Tom's Ready , Just Call Kenny, Vulcan's Forge, Beasley, Seymourdini, and Summer Revolution to complete the order of finish.

One who will not be going on to compete in 2018 is Practical Joke, whose stud deal was already finalized. The son of Into Mischief  retires to Ashford Stud with a 5-2-3 record from 12 starts, with earnings of $1,795,800. He will stand his introductory season for a $30,000 fee.

"I thought he ran a real solid race," trainer Chad Brown said. "More of the same from him; a model of consistency. It was hard to make up ground today on this track. That said, the winner was very impressive, and I don't think it would have mattered how the track was playing; it looked like nobody was going to beat him today.

"For Practical Joke, that's it. He's been a really solid horse for us. I'm excited about his future as a stallion and look forward to training his offspring."

The $450,000 winner's share of the Cigar Mile purse boosted Sharp Azteca's earnings to $1,756,740, with an overall record of 8-5-1 from 16 starts.