BC Turf Sprint: This may be Reneesgotzip's year

ARCADIA, Calif. – The career of Reneesgotzip has been defined by the Breeders’ Cup Turf Sprint, but that has meant more heartbreak in the last two years.

Reneesgotzip was third, beaten 1 1/2 lengths by Mizdirection, in the 2012 BC Turf Sprint. Last year, she was second, beaten a half-length by Mizdirection. That was the last time Reneesgotzip faced Mizdirection, who was retired last year.

Reneesgotzip is back in the $1 million BC Turf Sprint over about 6 1/2 furlongs on the hillside turf course at Santa Anita on Saturday. This may be her year.

“So now it’s our turn – 3-2-1,” owner Debbie Lanni said Sunday.

Reneesgotzip is a leading contender for the BC Turf Sprint, along with the 3-year-old No Nay Never, who has won stakes in England, France, and Kentucky in his five-race career. No Nay Never has not run on the hillside. Reneesgotzip has raced on the course twice, only in the BC Turf Sprints.

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Trained by Peter Miller, Reneesgotzip has made two starts this year, finishing third in the Grade 3 Rancho Bernardo Stakes at Del Mar on Aug. 17 and an easy win in the minor CERF Stakes over six furlongs there Sept. 3. The win in the CERF Stakes was vital to Miller to move Reneesgotzip toward the Breeders’ Cup after a win.

“She fell to her nose in the Rancho Bernardo, and the race was over,” Miller said. The CERF “made up for it. It was the last chance on synthetic. We didn’t want to go to the Breeders’ Cup off the Rancho Bernardo effort.”

On Sunday, Reneesgotzip worked a half-mile on turf in 48.40 seconds under jockey Edwin Maldonado. A 5-year-old mare, Reneesgotzip was not asked for a significant effort while working alone. Miller told Maldonado before the workout that he wanted the mare to go in 49 seconds.

“She looks good over it,” Miller said.

Reneesgotzip has won 8 of 15 starts and $869,860. She has won five stakes, including the Grade 2 Santa Ynez Stakes over seven furlongs on dirt in her second start at Santa Anita in January 2012. Lanni said a decision on whether Reneesgotzip is retired or races in 2015 has not been made but is on her mind.

“I’m thinking,” Lanni said. “The wheels are turning, which way, I don’t know.”

The BC Turf Sprint is expected to have a field of 14.

Silentio, third in the BC Mile last year behind Wise Dan, will have his first career start on the hillside turf course in the BC Turf Sprint.

Trained in California by Gary Mandella, Silentio is winless in four starts this year, including third-place finishes in three stakes. He was third in the Grade 2 Pat O’Brien Stakes on the synthetic track at Del Mar on Aug. 24.

On Sunday, Silentio worked five furlongs in 1:00.80. On Oct. 19, Silentio worked seven furlongs on turf in 1:25.

“He was breezing,” Mandella said Sunday. “I had my big work last week.”

While Reneesgotzip has speed and is likely to be part of the pace, Silentio will be closing. Jockey Victor Espinoza has the mount.

“He needs the right trip in a 14-horse field,” Mandella said.

With Kaigun likely to run in the BC Mile, Free as a Bird will draw into the field from the also-eligible list. As of Sunday, there was not a spot in the field for Ageless, a 5-year-old mare who would gain a berth if there is another defection from the original list of 14 before entries are taken Monday.

Trainer Arnaud Delacour said on Sunday that Ageless may run in the $100,000 Sen. Ken Maddy Stakes on the hillside turf course on Saturday’s undercard.