Mizdirection Rolls Again in the BC Turf Sprint!
In another dynamic performance on Racing’s championship weekend, Mizdirection repeated in the Breeders’ Cup Turf Sprint. Sent off at the 5/2 favorite, Mizdirection laid closer to the pace this year, but similar to last year, closed stoutly on the outside to win going away. The 5-year-old Mizzen Mast mare was 4th early, moved up through the turn to engage the leaders and won by a half length.
“If you give her a shot and something to run at, she usually gets the job done,” co-owner Jim Rome, said.
With the win, jockey Mike Smith, increased his lead as the Breeders’ Cup winningest rider by notching his 20th victory in the event. “I broke better this time (compared to last year’s race). Much more alert. I took advantage of the break and I took the rail right away, which is the best place to be turning right. You get a lot of momentum coming out of that turn going left. Man, she was right there. I was worried I might have been a little too close, but I’m glad I was because the lead horses weren’t stopping. Reneesgotzip wouldn’t give up.”
Mizdirection’s target this year was the same as well. 4-year-old filly, Reneesgotzip sprinted clear early on through fractions of 21.47 for the first quarter mile and 43.36 seconds for the half mile split. When encountered by Tightend Touchdown and Mizdirection in the late stages, Reneesgotzip dug down, but just could not hold the lead. She finished in a dead heat for second with Tightend Touchdown as the $4.50-1 second choice.
“We’re disappointed, but not in the filly. She ran a winning race. The post (No. 4) cost us. Being drawn inside hurt us, but the filly ran a winning race. She just got out-nodded. “She did everything she could do and Edwin (Maldonado) rode a great race. We knew with the seven-horse (Tightend Touchdown) in there that he would press us and he did. I’ve got no complaints,” trainer Peter Miller.
Tightend Touchdown was the only Eastern based horse to hit board. He tracked Reneesgotzip early, and raced gallantly between her and the winner down the stretch to salvage a portion of the place. “He ran good. I’m very, very happy. From what I saw he had a great trip. I’ll settle for the deadheat. This is even better than I first thought. This is a dream come true. I can see how people get hooked on this,” trainer Jason Servis.
Going forward, plans for Mizdirection are to travel to Kentucky next week and be sold at auction in Keeneland’s Breeding Stock Sale. “She loves it here, eh? She loves Santa Anita. She’s seven-for-seven on the turf. She’s really tenacious, but it’s quite sad that she is getting on a plane tomorrow and heading for the sales,” trainer Mike Puype.
If this turns out to be Mizdirection’s final time on the track, she retires with a record 11-4-1 from 17 starts and earnings of $1,719,621.