Santa Anita: Rhythm of Light will skip Buena Vista

Mizdirection, winner of the Breeders’ Cup Turf Sprint against males in November, will start around two turns for the first time in 18 months in the $150,000, one-mile Buena Vista Stakes for fillies and mares on turf next Monday at Sant Anita.

The assignment will be slightly easier than expected.

Friday, trainer Simon Callaghan said that Rhythm of Light, who won the Grade 2 Goldikova Stakes in November, will miss the Grade 2 Buena Vista because of concern over the condition of one of her ankles.

Callaghan said that Rhythm of Light underwent X-rays, which showed no damage.

“It’s nothing long-term,” he said. “Rather than push her to make this race, the main targets are in the middle of the season. We don’t want to take a chance. We decided to back off.”

Mizdirection, 5, has had one start since the BC Turf Sprint, winning the Grade 2 Monrovia Stakes on the hillside turf course on Jan. 6. Trained by Mike Puype, Mizdirection has won 8 of 13 starts and $1,004,621. She won the Sandy Blue Handicap over a mile on turf at Del Mar in August 2011.

Jimmy Creed still coughing

Jimmy Creed, the winner of the Grade 1 Malibu Stakes on Dec. 26, will miss the Grade 2 San Carlos Stakes over seven furlongs on Feb. 23 because of a lingering cough.

Trainer Richard Mandella was forced to declare Jimmy Creed from the Strub Stakes for 4-year-olds on Feb. 2 after the colt’s illness first surfaced in January.