Santa Anita: Mizdirection takes off-the-turf Las Cienegas

ARCADIA, Calif. - The surface was different than expected, but there was no surprise to the outcome of Saturday's $100,000 Las Cienegas Handicap at Santa Anita. Mizdirection ($2.60) extended her winning streak to four races.

The race was transferred from the hillside turf course to the main track after considerable rain on Friday. As a result, the 10-time stakes winner Unzip Me and the graded stakes winner Broken Dreams were scratched, leaving four starters.

Mizdirection ran 6 1/2 furlongs in 1:16.50, closing from the back of the field under jockey David Flores to win by a half-length over 5-2 Teroda. La Nez, an 8-1 shot, finished third, followed by 15-1 Saanneen.

Flores guided Mizdirection three-wide in early stretch to reach contention, taking the lead in the final furlong. Teroda finished 3 1/2 lengths in front of La Nez. Teroda's jockey, Martin Garcia, dropped his whip at the eighth pole.

Mizdirection races for a partnership and is trained by Mike Puype. A 4-year-old filly by Mizzen Mast, Mizdirection has won 6 of 10 starts and $360,111.

"She definitely does not do as well on the dirt," Puype said. "A win is a win and we'll take it."
Mizdirection's current winning streak began with an optional claimer on turf at Hollywood Park last December, and includes two turf sprints from earlier this year -- the Grade 3 Monrovia Stakes and the Clocker Corner's Handicap.

The Las Cienegas was Mizdirection's first win on a dirt track in her second start on the surface. She was second in a maiden race in her career debut in March 2011, and has raced primarily on turf since then.