Mizdirection Stakes draws turf sprinters from near and far

OZONE PARK, N.Y. – They have come from all across the country to chase the $100,000 purse of the inaugural Mizdirection Stakes for 3-year-old fillies at Aqueduct on Sunday.

Horses based in Southern California, South Florida, Pennsylvania, and Kentucky are here for the six-furlong turf sprint named for the Southern California-based mare who twice won the Breeders’ Cup Turf Sprint and earned $1.7 million. Mizdirection finished fifth of six in the Grade 1 Just a Game, her lone start in New York.

Trainer Simon Callaghan shipped Out of The Flames in from Southern California. Out of The Flames, who began her career in Europe, is coming off a first-level allowance win at Santa Anita just two weeks ago, a race run at 6 1/2 furlongs down the hill.

“We’re slightly limited this time of year for spots for her,” Callaghan said by phone from California. “She won, obviously, going down the hill last time, but I kind of think the little bit of a turnback might be in her favor. I didn’t think there looked to be any sort of standout, so this was possibly a good opportunity.”

Paco Lopez, who won three races at Aqueduct on Thursday, has the mount.

Raucous won the Chelsey Flower Stakes here last Nov. 4 going a mile, then shipped out to Southern California, where she finished third, beaten 1 1/2 lengths, in the Grade 3 Jimmy Durante at Del Mar.

“She might be outpaced early, but hopefully she makes a nice run at them,” said Christophe Lorieul, assistant to trainer Christophe Clement.

Raucous gets Lasix for the first time Sunday.

Trainer Wesley Ward entered both Nootka Sound and Mentality in Saturday’s $100,000 Bridgetown and in the Mizdirection. Ward said Friday that Mentality would run in the Mizdirection.

Mentality was a beaten favorite in an allowance race here last Oct. 18, but that came just one week after she finished seventh in the Grade 3 Jessamine Stakes at Keeneland.

“I think she’s a really talented filly,” Ward said. “She’s breezed like she could win this race.”

March X Press, trained by Todd Pletcher; Golden Days, 2 for 2 at Fair Grounds for Brad Cox; and Africa, who makes her seasonal debut for Chad Brown, are other contenders in the Mizdirection.