Mizdirection Outside for Turf Sprint Defense

Despite 2012 winner Mizdirection returning to try for a double, a full field of 14 entered this year’s Geico Breeders’ Cup Turf Sprint (gr. IT) Nov. 2 at Santa Anita Park. Mizdirection, who won last year from post 11, drew the 12 hole this time around.

Owned by Jim Rome’s Jungle Racing, Bill Strauss, Kevin Nish, Daniel Grohs, Mike Kramek’s MSK Racing Ventures, and Boris Beljak, Mizdirection hasn’t started since finishing fifth on yielding turf in the June 8 Just A Game Stakes (gr. IT) over one mile at Belmont Park. But the 5-year-old daughter of Mizzen Mast  —Deceptive, by Clever Trick, won last year’s Turf Sprint off an even longer layoff, and trainer Mike Puype says that she is "freaky good right now."

Earlier this year at Santa Anita, Mizdirection captured three graded stakes at Santa Anita, two at the Turf Sprint distance of about 6 1/2 furlongs down the hill. She has not lost in five starts over that course and distance. Mike Smith, who rode her last year, returns in the saddle.

"I like it—we’re outside and out of trouble," said Strauss of Mizdirection’s draw. "Would I say I would have rather had eight, nine, or 10? Yes. But we were (post) 11 last year, and we have the best jockey on the horse."

Unbridled's Note and Reneesgotzip, who finished second and third, respectively, in last year’s Turf Sprint, also return.

Unbridled’s Note, ridden by Corey Nakatani, drew the far outside post. He comes out of a third in the Sept. 27 Eddie D. Stakes (gr. IIIT) over the same course and distance.

Reneesgotzip, with Edwin Maldonado aboard and Peter Miller the trainer, drew post 4. She and Mizdirection are the only females in the field.

Trainer Todd Pletcher brings Foxwoods King’s Bishop Stakes (gr. I) winner Capo Bastone   in from New York. A 3-year-old by Street Boss  —Fight to Love, by Fit to Fight, Capo Bastone finished third in last year’s Breeders’ Cup Juvenile (gr. I)—when trained on the West Coast by John Sadler—and will be making his first start on the turf. He drew post 9.

Four others who competed in the Eddie D. have been entered in the Turf Sprint. Supplemental entrant Chips All In (the winner), Boat Trip (second), Caracortado (fourth) and Rock Me Baby (seventh) all come out that race.