Lunar Impact lands easy victory in Mizdirection Stakes

ARCADIA, Calif. – Lunar Impact, making her first start since July, romped to an easy win in Saturday’s $102,000 Mizdirection Stakes on the hillside turf course for fillies and mares at Santa Anita.

Ridden by Hector Berrios, Lunar Impact led throughout and pulled clear through the stretch to win by five lengths. Sent off favored, Lunar Impact ($7) ran about 6 1/2 furlongs on the hillside turf course in 1:13.69. Lunar Impact earned a career-best Beyer Speed Figure of 95.

Berrios had Lunar Impact in front shortly after the start and set a modest pace for the hillside course of 22.98 seconds for the opening quarter-mile and 45.57 for a half-mile. Uncorked (5-1) stalked the pace and finished second, 1 3/4 lengths in front of 9-2 Venganza. Valence finished fourth, followed by Ang N Ash, Miss Roberts, Tahini, Chismosa, and Granny Budgie. Beyond Lucky was withdrawn earlier on Saturday.

Lunar Impact, a 5-year-old British-bred mare by Zoustar, is trained by Dan Blacker. She is owned by the partnership of DK Racing, Qatar Racing, Blacker’s Radley Equine, Rick Gold, and Dave Odmark.

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Lunar Impact has won 4 of 11 starts and $210,860.

“We’ve always felt highly of her,” Blacker said in the winner’s circle. “It was vindicating to come back from the layoff and reward the owners for being patient. This was the result.”

The Mizdirection Stakes was Lunar Impact’s first start since she finished fifth of eight in the restricted Osunitas Stakes for fillies and mares at a mile on turf at Del Mar last July. All four of her wins have been on turf, including two allowance races on the hillside turf course in the first four months of 2024.

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