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2026 Rancho Bernardo Stakes

Juan Hernandez and trainer Richard Baltas celebrate with Sweet Azteca after winning the 2026 Rancho Bernardo Stakes

The feature race on Sunday at Del Mar was the $100,000 Rancho Bernardo Stakes (G3) for fillies and mares sprinting 6 1/2 furlongs on the main track. Conditions were excellent for mid-August at the seaside oval with cloudy skies and temperatures in the low 70's for the 7,613 fans in attendance. A field of six made final entry but after Sweet Gal of Mine scratched out, just five loaded into the gate with two-time winner Sweet Azteca the 3-10 choice off a three-race win streak including the Great Lady M Stakes (G2) at Los Alamitos last out. In to challenge her included 2-1 second choice Thermal, winner of the Memorial Day Sprint at Lone Star Park, and 18-1 third choice Fire Ban making her stakes debut off an allowance win last out.

Down the stretch in the Rancho Bernardo Stakes

Jockey Joel Rosario sent Thermal to the lead exiting the chute through fractions of 22.49 and 44.94 while pressed by Sweet Azteca and stalked by Fire Ban and 23-1 longest shot Antifona. Turning for home, Sweet Azteca swept to the lead on the outside through 3/4 in 1:09.64. Kept to task by Juan Hernandez, Sweet Azteca drew off to win by 4 3/4 lengths in 1:16.51. It was another 3 1/4 lengths back to Antifona third. This is Sweet Azteca's third consecutive Rancho Bernardo Stakes win.

Pgm Horse Jockey Win Place Show 5 Sweet Azteca Hernandez 2.60 2.10 2.10 1 Thermal Rosario 2.40 2.10 3 Antifona Fresu 3.00 Winning Time: 1:16.51 $1 Exacta 5-1 1.90 $2 Quinella 1-5 2.80 $0.50 Trifecta 5-1-3 3.75 Results Chart

Left: Sweet Azteca in the winner's circle. Winning trainer Richard Baltas said, "Juan (Hernandez) was saying she relaxed nice for him, she wasn't pulling as hard. She did whatever he wanted. Juan rode the perfect race and got the job done. I was worried about something happening with her standing in the gate too long but she's been standing really good lately and didn't move a muscle. I'm glad it's over. She ran like I knew she would."

Right: Sweet Azteca in the post parade. Winning jockey Juan Hernandez said, "I knew that other filly (Thermal) was fast and she broke in front of me. But my filly was going well. My filly took a breather on the backstretch and I knew she was traveling well. Richie (Baltas) told me to ride with confidence and I did. When we hit the three-eighths (pole) I asked my filly to go and she did. And she went on with it from there."

Left: Second place finisher Thermal in the paddock before the race. She improved her record to 4 wins, 1 second, and 4 thirds in 15 starts, earning $253,117 for co-owner By Talla Racing and co-owner/trainer John Sadler.

Right: Third place finisher Antifona in the walking ring. The Vladimir Cerin trainee improved her record to 4 wins, 2 seconds, and 4 thirds in 22 starts, earning $229,767 for owners Holly and David Wilson.

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