Sweet Azteca, a six-year-old mare bred and owned by Pam Ziebarth, is set to go for a third win in the Great Lady M Stakes at Los Alamitos Race Course on July 4, 2026. This race is a Grade II event over 6 1/2 furlongs on dirt, offering a $200,000 purse and is open to three-year-olds and up, both fillies and mares. Sweet Azteca, trained by Richard Baltas and Michael McCarthy, has an impressive record with seven wins from nine starts, including back-to-back Great Lady M victories in 2024 and 2025, as well as the 2024 Beholder Mile Stakes (G1) and consecutive Rancho Bernardo Handicap (G3) wins in 2024-25. Her win margins in these races have been impressive, ranging from 1 1/2 to 7 lengths.
The mare's lineage is notable, with her third dam, Tizsweet, being a full sister to Tiznow, a two-time winner of the Breeders' Cup Classic (G1). Tiznow, bred by Cecilia Straub Rubens, is a significant figure in California racing history. Sweet Azteca's breeding highlights the deep-rooted connections within the California racing community.
In contrast, Grand Slam Smile, a five-year-old mare bred and owned by Larry and Marianne Williams, is a two-time Cal-bred champion. She was voted champion 2-year-old female in 2023 with two stakes victories and champion 3-year-old female in 2024, adding three more stakes wins. Grand Slam Smile, trained by Steve Specht and later Sean McCarthy, has been in top form, winning the Sunshine Millions Filly and Mare Turf Sprint Stakes and the Irish O'Brien Stakes, among others.
The field is strong, with notable entries like Magnificat, a 4-year-old daughter of Omaha Beach, and Nooni, a 4-year-old daughter of Win Win Win, both trained by renowned conditioners. Bob Baffert, a seven-time winner of the Great Lady M with Marley's Freedom, brings Nooni to this year's race, despite her recent fifth-place finish in the 2024 Starlet Stakes.
The race also features A Thousand Miles, Prancingthruparis, and A. Z. Wildcat, all with stakes wins under their belts. The Great Lady M Stakes promises to be a thrilling contest, with multiple stakes winners and top-tier conditioners and jockeys in the mix. The outcome will not only determine the champion but also add to the rich history of this prestigious race.
