Miss Lizzy goes last to first in Mizdirection Stakes

ARCADIA, Calif. - Miss Lizzy started for a $50,000 claiming price in 2023, but only once.

A win in that claiming race, at six furlongs on turf, changed her career.

Miss Lizzy has thrived in turf sprints in the last 13 months, and recorded a first career stakes win in Saturday’s $101,500 Mizdirection Stakes for fillies and mares at about 6 1/2 furlongs on the hillside turf course at Santa Anita.

Ridden by Antonio Fresu, Miss Lizzy ($12) rallied from last of eight to win by 1 3/4 lengths over 8-5 favorite Getthemoney, who set the pace. Chismosa, who was prominent early, finished third as a 6-1 chance, beaten 2 1/4 lengths.

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Miss Lizzy’s style surprised winning trainer Doug O’Neill. She rallied between rivals in the stretch to reach the front.

“We didn’t expect her to be that far back,” O’Neill said. “Antonio has so much confidence. I thought he’d tip her out and he found a lane and pushed her through. I didn’t know if she would have the guts to do that.”

Miss Lizzy was timed in 1:13.82, winning for the fifth time in her 19th start. Miss Lizzy earned a career-best Beyer Speed Figure of 89.

Lucky Girl finished fourth, followed by Adaay In Asia, Selenaia, The Wild Grazer and Rebalation. Getthemoney set a solid pace of 22.21 seconds for the opening quarter-mile, and 44.26 for a half-mile.

Miss Lizzy, who races for breeder and co-owner Glenn Sorgenstein in partnership with WC Racing and Wonderland Racing Stables, has earned $262,820.

A 4-year-old filly by Classic Empire, Miss Lizzy won the maiden claimer in her fifth start, and turf debut, at six furlongs at Santa Anita. She won two starter allowance races on turf last June and November, and has raced in much better company this year.

Miss Lizzy won an allowance race at six furlongs on turf on Feb. 3 when ridden by Fresu, and was later third in the restricted Wishing Well Stakes on the hillside course and second in the Grade 3 Monrovia Stakes on the hillside on April 6.

Miss Lizzy was sixth of nine in the Grade 3 Royal Heroine Stakes at a mile in her first start in a two-turn stakes on turf on April 27, but rebounded with a career-best effort on Saturday.

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