Mizdirection course suits Coniah

ARCADIA, Calif. – The versatile mare Coniah gave trainer William E. Morey options for a stakes appearance at Santa Anita this weekend.

The choices were Saturday’s Grade 2 Santa Monica Stakes at seven furlongs on dirt or Sunday’s $75,000 Mizdirection Stakes on the hillside turf course. Morey chose the Mizdirection because he preferred to run Coniah in a turf sprint.

“We thought the Mizdirection would be a little softer, but it was mostly the course,” Morey said. “She likes the downhill course.”

Coniah won the Grade 3 Las Cienegas Stakes on the hillside turf course Jan. 20 and is the only 2018 graded stakes winner among the 11 entrants in the Mizdirection, the eighth race on a 10-race program that begins at 11:30 a.m. Pacific.

Among Coniah’s main challengers are Bendable, Belvoir Bay, and Mongolian Shopper, who won the restricted Wishing Well Stakes on the hillside turf course on Feb. 24.

KEY CONTENDERS

Coniah, by Harlington
Last 3 Beyers: 99-96-94

◗ Owned by breeders James and Tammy McKenney, Coniah was second to Selcourt in the Grade 3 Las Flores Stakes at six furlongs on dirt Feb. 18. Selcourt was a leading contender for Saturday’s Santa Monica Stakes.

◗ In both the Las Cienegas and Las Flores, Coniah disputed the pace, a style Morey expects to see Sunday.

“She goes all-out all the way,” he said.

◗ Coniah has finished first or second in her three starts on the hillside turf course, including a second in the Grade 2 Monrovia Stakes last May.

“She’s better right now,” Morey said.

◗ Coniah will be ridden for the first time by Geovanni Franco in the Mizdirection. Franco, who won the first Grade 1 race of his career in the Santa Margarita Stakes aboard Fault last Saturday, replaces Kent Desormeaux, who is not riding at Santa Anita on Sunday in advance of a scheduled trip to Dubai for the Dubai World Cup program March 31.

◗ Franco and Morey have teamed to win two of nine races at the current meeting.

“I’ve been riding him all along since the start of the meet,” Morey said. “He’s a very good rider.”

Bendable, by Horse Greeley
Last 3 Beyers: 92-85-88

◗ Bendable was beaten 1 3/4 lengths by Coniah in the Las Cienegas in her first start on turf. Bendable beat Coniah when they were first and second in the Grade 3 Desert Stormer Stakes at six furlongs on dirt here last June.

Trainer Richard Mandella said Bendable may be better on turf.

“I’d like to see her get another shot at it,” he said. “She ran a nice race.”

Belvoir Bay, by Equiano
Last 3 Beyers: 92-96-96

◗ The Mizdirection will be the first 2018 start for Belvoir Bay, who won the 2016 Unzip Me Stakes for 3-year-old fillies on the hillside turf course.