Santa Anita notes: Mizdirection to be ridden by Flores in Las Cienegas

ARCADIA, Calif. – Jockey David Flores will ride Mizdirection in Saturday’s $100,000 Las Cienegas Stakes at Santa Anita as a one-race replacement for regular rider Mike Smith, trainer Mike Puype said.

Flores rode Mizdirection to a half-length victory in the Las Cienegas in April 2012, when the race was moved from turf to dirt because of wet weather. Smith has ridden Mizdirection in her last three starts, including a win in the Breeders’ Cup Turf Sprint here last November. He is booked to ride War Academy in the $1 million Arkansas Derby at Oaklawn Park next Saturday.

“David will be backing Mike up,” Puype said.

Owned by a partnership, Mizdirection, 5, has won 9 of 14 starts and $1,094,621. She will be a heavy favorite to win the Las Cienegas, which is run over about 6 1/2 furlongs on the hillside turf course.

Puype considers the Grade 3 Las Cienegas Stakes to be a prep for the $500,000 Just a Game Stakes over a mile on turf at Belmont Park on June 8.

Porfido, now 11, claimed

It’s never too late to claim a potential stakes horse.

Last Thursday, the 11-year-old Porfido was claimed for $25,000 by owner James Taplin and trainer Dan McFarlane, who intend to start the gelding in the $35,000 Hasta La Vista Handicap over 1 7/8 miles at Turf Paradise on May 7.

A Chilean-bred, Porfido emerged from his fourth-place finish in good shape, McFarlane said.

“He looks awesome,” McFarlane said on Friday.

Porfido was previously trained by Eoin Harty, was once trained by the late Bobby Frankel, and has won 14 of 62 starts and $728,802.

McFarlane said that Taplin has three horses in his stable who are a combined 24 years old.

“One of them is a 2-year-old,” he said.

Yes He’s a Pistol, an 11-year-old owned by Taplin, starts for McFarlane in a $3,000 claiming race in Monday’s seventh race at Turf Paradise.

Smart Ellis to San Juan Capistrano

Smart Ellis, the winner of an optional claimer over 1 1/8 miles on turf on March 3, will make his next start in the $150,000 San Juan Capistrano Handicap over about 1 3/4 miles on turf, trainer Richard Mandella said.

“I’ve always wanted to go long with him, and I can’t get much longer,” Mandella said.

Smart Ellis, 4, has yet to win a stakes. Third in the Grade 2 Twilight Derby here last November, Smart Ellis has won 3 of 11 starts and $151,840.

Krigger, O’Neill each win four

Jockey Kevin Krigger and trainer Doug O’Neill had their most productive days of the year on Friday, each winning four of the eight races at Santa Anita.

Krigger won four consecutive races, the third through sixth, including an optional claimer over 1 1/4 miles on turf on The Only Key, who could return to face males in the San Juan Capistrano.

O’Neill had five wins on Friday, including a race at Golden Gate Fields.

Scott to begin rehab

Jockey Joy Scott, who suffered a compound fracture to her right femur in a training accident on March 12, has undergone two surgeries and could move to a rehabilitation center as early as this week, according to trainer Howard Zucker.

Zucker, who has kept contact with Joy Scott and her family, told Santa Anita’s publicity department that the most recent surgery, conducted on Thursday, “seems to have been more successful.”

Scott, 53, has won 466 races in her career, including five this year.