Breeders' Cup Turf Sprint: Last year's winner Mizdirection merits respect despite layoff

Any discussion of the competitive Breeders’ Cup Turf Sprint should begin with last year's winner.

Mizdirection, a perfect 5 for 5 over the Santa Anita downhill turf course, hasn’t raced since tiring over a boggy mile in New York on Belmont Stakes day, but she won last year’s Turf Sprint off a similar layoff. She shows five workouts since mid-September and a seven-furlong drill under Mike Smith on Oct. 18 left trainer Mike Puype pleased with her condition.

“It was a nice strong work,” Puype told Santa Anita publicity last week. “She’s right on schedule.”

Mizdirection isn’t the only talented filly pre-entered to tackle the boys in the Grade 1, $1,000,000 Turf Sprint at the about distance of 6 ½ furlongs. The fleet Reneesgotzip, third in this race last year when making her grass debut, has been freshened since a pair of swift Polytrack sprint victories at Del Mar. She is also cross-entered in the Sprint on dirt, but the Turf Sprint is her first preference and she would loom a strong pace contender under Edwin Maldonado.

The top four finishers of the local Turf Sprint prep, the Grade 3 Eddie D. Stakes on September 27, are expected to challenge Mizdirection. The consistent Chips All In, a nose away from being a perfect 3 for 3 over the downhill, utilized his excellent tactical speed to get the jump on the closers in the Eddie D. He has been supplemented to the race for $100,000 and will be ridden by Julien Leparoux.

The popular Caracortado rallied for fourth in the Eddie D., his first start following a 20-month layoff. Plagued with various injuries to the frog on his right front foot, Caracortado showed with his Eddie D. performance that he still has some life.

“We didn’t know if he might come back, or what level he might come back at, but right now, he’s training as good as ever,” trainer Mike Machowsky told Santa Anita track publicity. Gary Stevens picks up the mount.

Multiple Grade 1 winner Jeranimo holds a second preference in the Mile, and is an intriguing turnback candidate. Although a middle-distance performer for much of his career, he does have two sprint wins and fits very well from a class perspective.

Unbridled’s Note finished second in the 2012 Turf Sprint and is expected to move forward in his second start following a 4 1/2-month layoff. Unbridled’s Note goes out for Steve Asmussen and Corey Nakatani, the same jockey-trainer combination that won the 2011 Turf Sprint with Regally Ready.

Other strong contenders in this competitive renewal of the Turf Sprint include Keeneland specialist Havelock, and Grade 1 King’s Bishop winner Capo Bastone, who will make his turf debut for Todd Pletcher.

Completing the list of pre-entries are the improving Boat Trip, second in the Eddie D.; Grade 2 winner Dimension; and stakes-winners Spring to the Sky and Tightend Touchdown.

Obviously and Silver Max are capable middle-distance performers that hold first preferences in the Mile. Cristoforo Colombo, Rock Me Baby, Handsome Mike, and Tour Guide are on the also-eligible list.