Hollywood: Mizdirection has Monrovia, two turns in her future

INGLEWOOD, Calif. - The Matriarch Stakes has not been completely ruled out for Mizdirection, the winner of the Breeders’ Cup Turf Sprint at Santa Anita last Saturday.

Trainer Mike Puype said Mizdirection is likely to make her next start in the Monrovia Stakes, a race she won earlier this year, at 6 1/2 furlongs on the hillside turf course at Santa Anita in late December or early January. The stakes schedule for Santa Anita’s winter-spring meeting has not been published.

Puype said that Mizdirection is likely to start in a one-mile race next year.

“The Monrovia is a must-go for sure,” he said. “We’ll have to venture into a route race at some point in the season. We’ll look at the Royal Heroine or something at a mile. She’s relaxing now, that the key.”

The Royal Heroine is run over a mile on turf for fillies and mares at Hollywood Park in the summer.

Mizdirection, co-owned by sports talk show host Jim Rome, has not started around two turns since she won the Sandy Blue Handicap over a mile on turf at Del Mar in August 2011.

Regarding the Matriarch Stakes, Puype said that Mizdirection is nominated.

“I don’t rule that out,” he said.