Queen Azteca Arrives in Saratoga, Prepares for Stateside Debut in Alabama

[Wandering Eyes]

Queen Azteca (Sharp Azteca), winner of the G3 UAE Oaks in February at Meydan Racecourse, arrived in Saratoga Au8. 8 and cleared quarantine to gallop over the Oklahoma training track Sunday morning. Trained by Niels Petersen, the bay was purchased privately by Team Valor International and is expected to make her North American debut in Saturday's GI Alabama Stakes.

Queen Azteca was accompanied to the training track by her exercise rider Carlos Toro Montecinos and a pony, calmly taking in her surroundings before jogging a half-mile and galloping once around the dirt oval.

“She settled in very good. She's a very good traveler. This was her first time out on track, and she loved it. She's as big as the pony, and the pony is big,” said Montecinos, with a laugh. “She has a nice temperament too. She's never seen a pony at home.”

Queen Azteca, who was based in Norway with Petersen, made her two most recent outings at Jagersro in Sweden, winning at 11 furlongs in June and finishing a 1 3/4-length second in 12-furlong Jockeyklubben Svenskt Derby on July 13.

“That's what she needs – long distance,” Montecinos said of the Alabama 10-furlong distance. “She flies really good at the end – she has a really good finish.”

Out of Princessa Helena (Palace Malice), the $22,000 KEESEP purchase will stay in the U.S. following the Alabama and will be trained by Rodolphe Brisset.

 

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