By Bill Finley
On paper, it didn't look like Sweet Azteca (Sharp Azteca) could lose in last Saturday's GIII Chillingworth Stakes at Santa Anita. Instead, the Grade I winner was last in the field of four, losing to One Magic Philly (Good Magic) by 8 3/4 lengths in what was the worst start of her career.
Trainer Michael McCarthy reports that he can find no reason why she ran so poorly and is still aiming for he GI Breeders' Cup Filly & Mare Sprint.
“She is fine,” McCarthy said. “There's no issues. All the diagnostics were pretty much unremarkable. I'm just going to draw a line through the race. She got a little irritated and a little agitated down in the saddling enclosure. It was a hot day. But that race was certainly not anything we were expecting.”
McCarthy was relieved to see that his filly came out of the race in good order.
“My first concern is for her overall health and you worry that maybe you missed something,” he said. “Going into any race you're always dotting your I's and crossing your T's and we did that. A race like that just comes out of left field. She's on schedule right now for the Breeders' Cup. I think she's as good right now as we could ask her to be.”
The Chillingworth ended a four-race winning streak that included the GI Beholder Mile, the GII Great Lady M Stakes and the GIII Rancho Bernardo Handicap.
Not a subscriber? Click here to sign up for the daily PDF or alerts.
