Mizdirection underpins the Breeders’ Cup Turf Sprint by a very narrow margin
Mizdirection took her record in downhill turf sprints to three out of three after nabbing the Grade IT Breeders’ Cup Turf Sprint on 3rd November at Santa Anita. She was one of the two fillies in the field of fourteen horses. Not only did she make
her connections proud, her riding partner, Mike Smith, was able to raise the bar of his Breeders’ Cup World Championships wins to seventeen.
Trainer, Aidan O’Brien’s, hope for the race, Starspangled, set the pace. The speed was by far the highest of the two-day extravaganza. At the initial stage of the race, her pace could be match up only by the under charge of Jerry Hollendorfer, Chosen Miracle.
As the field sped in for the main turf course from the dirt path off the hill, the Hall of Fame rider, Mike Smith, broke free from the slow, patient, and low-profile stance that he had kept.
Swinging Mizzen Mast’s daughter into the middle of the track, he went after Unbridled’s Note and Reneesgotzip, in a ferocious pursuit. Stopping the progress of the duo from there on became impossible for any of the lot in the field.
Just when Unbridled’s Note was about ten strides away from the wire, the relentless Mizdirection took over, and made Reneesgotzip settle back in the third position after missing the wire by 1 ¼ length.
The Jungle Racing LLC owned completed the trip in 1:11.39 seconds and won by the mark of just half-length. The time was very close to the course record.
Winning four out of her five outings of the 2012 campaign notched up her career earnings to $914,621.
"It was absolutely awesome," Rome said in a crowded winner’s circle. "Mike is a Hall of Fame rider, and he gave her a Hall of Fame ride."
Smith said: "Mike's a brilliant trainer and she looked ready. She's really a two-miler so I knew she'd get the six and a half (furlongs)."
The jockey won the Grade 1 Breeders’ Cup Ladies Classic on Royal Delta on 2nd November.
The other graded successes of Mizdirection for the current season include the Grade III Monrovia Handicap and the Las Cienegas.
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