Breeders' Cup Turf Sprint: Puype says Mizdirection will be ready
The biggest development over the weekend surrounding the Breeders’ Cup Turf Sprint did not concern a potential prep race. It had to do with a workout, specifically the half-mile breeze Friday in 48.40 seconds around the dogs on the Santa Anita turf course by Mizdirection, the winner of last year’s Turf Sprint.
Mizdirection has not raced since June 8, when she finished fifth in the Just A Game Stakes over a yielding course she did not handle. And before her move Friday, she had not had a published workout since Aug. 11, when she breezed three furlongs on turf at Del Mar. But trainer Mike Puype insists that nothing was ever amiss with his mare.
“She missed no training at all,” Puype said. “The turf was too chewed up at Del Mar for me to do anything with her, but she’s been ready to go. She’ll have six solid works going into the Breeders’ Cup, and she will be ready. Last year, she won off a longer layoff.”
When Mizdirection won the Turf Sprint last year at Santa Anita, she had not started since May 27. And after her Breeders’ Cup score, Mizdirection won three straight graded stakes this year on turf at Santa Anita, two on the downhill course.