Sweet Azteca On Comeback Trail for New Trainer Richard Baltas, Baffert’s Hejazi Also Works Toward Return

[Wandering Eyes]

GISW Sweet Azteca (Sharp Azteca), now in the barn of trainer Richard Baltas, was out Saturday morning to post her second workout at the Great RIP as she continues progressing toward a racing return.

Gone since finishing fourth in the GIII Chillingworth Stakes for trainer Michael McCarthy, the grey worked five furlongs in 1:00 flat after going four furlongs last Saturday Apr. 19 in :47.60. The GI Beholder Mile victress was spotted back in mid-March when she resurfaced at San Luis Rey Training Center with a three-furlong breeze as her first posted work since last October.

Likewise, GISP Hejazi (Bernardini) is also inching closer to comeback as the Bob Baffert trainee put in his sixth work Saturday morning since being gone for almost a year and a half. Sidelined after running fourth Jan. 27 in the GIII Fred W. Hooper Stakes, a race after he was the runner-up in the GI Malibu Stakes to stablemate Speed Boat Beach (Bayern), the $3.55-million 2022 EASMAY topper was clocked doing five furlongs in 1:00.40 (11/50).

Speed Boat Beach too has been gone for all of 2024, and is slated to make his 2025 bow May 1 in the St. Matthews Overnight Stakes at Churchill Downs.

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