Give the connections of Chismosa props for courage. The gallant 5-year-old mare has tackled the brilliant Sweet Azteca four times and is coming back for more in the $100,000 Rancho Bernardo Handicap (G3) Aug. 24 at Del Mar.
True, Sweet Azteca has defeated Chismosa in their three most recent meetings. But Chismosa is one of only five ever to finish ahead of Sweet Azteca, winning the 2024 Las Flores Stakes (G3) when Sweet Azteca ran third. Could it happen again? Owner Jaime Renella and trainer Rafael DeLeon are willing to try.
Only four facee Sweet Azteca, the blazingly fast 5-year-old daughter of Sharp Azteca with a record of six wins in eight starts and an average winning margin of 4 3/4 lengths. She is the reigning Rancho Bernardo champion, having won the 2024 edition of the 6 1/2-furlong stakes by seven lengths when trained by Michael McCarthy.
Richard Baltas took over for owner/breeder Pam Ziebarth in 2025, and he is 1-for-1 with Sweet Azteca, who scored in the July 5 Great Lady M. Stakes (G2) at Los Alamitos Race Course, defeating odds-on favorite Kopion. Leading rider Juan Hernandez returns in the saddle.
The Rancho Bernardo is part of the Breeders' Cup Dirt Dozen, with horses finishing first, second, or third receiving a tiered bonus bankroll applicable to pre-entry and entry fees at the Breeders' Cup World Championships.
Chismosa switches between graded and California-bred company and rarely misses getting a check. The daughter of Clubhouse Ride has won five stakes from 26 starts, received the 2024 champion California-bred older female title, and has the largest bankroll of the field with $624,750, just ahead of Sweet Azteca's $607,200.
The other three rivals have a way to go to catch Sweet Azteca and Chismosa in money and trophies. In Formula Rossa's case, however, that may simply be due to inexperience. The 3-year-old filly is making only her third lifetime start, but she is undefeated for trainer Mark Glatt. Like Sweet Azteca, Formula Rossa wins by daylight: She broke her maiden Feb. 21 by four lengths and added a 6 1/2-length blowout at Del Mar Aug. 3 in first-level allowance optional claiming company.
Visually is a graded stakes winner, having won the 2024 Senorita Stakes (G3T) on turf, but she has not won since.
Donttellourwives is making her stakes debut and coming off back-to-back wins.
Del Mar, Sunday, August 24, 2025, Race 2Entries: Rancho Bernardo H. (G3)
PP Horse Jockey Wgt Trainer M/L 1 1Chismosa (CA) Kyle Frey 119 Rafael DeLeon 5/1 2 2Donttellourwives (FL) Diego A. Herrera 114 Leonard Powell 20/1 3 3Formula Rossa (KY) Antonio Fresu 115 Mark Glatt 3/1 4 4Visually (KY) Armando Ayuso 118 Librado Barocio 15/1 5 5Sweet Azteca (KY) Juan J. Hernandez 126 Richard Baltas 2/5
