Breeders’ Cup Turf Sprint: Mizdirection repeats as champion

What’s going on at the Breeders’ Cup? The traditional home of longshots has been playing favorites.

For the third race in a row, the favorite -- in this case Mizdirection -- won at Santa Anita in the Turf Sprint on Saturday. It was also the second race in a row that had a repeat champion. Groupie Doll was the repeat winner of the Filly & Mare Sprint.

Mizdirection, partly owned by radio talker Jim Rome, came charging through the stretch to win by half a length. The 5-year-old mare is seven-for-seven on the downhill 6 1/2-furlong turf course at Santa Anita. The owners plan to retire and sell the horse later this year.

It was jockey Mike Smith’s 20th Breeders’ Cup win.

Interestingly Mizdirection and Reneesgotzip were the only two females in field of 14. Reneesgotzip finished in dead for second with Tightend Touchdown. Mizdirection paid $7.40, $4.40 and $3.40. Reneesgotzip returned $3.60 and $4.80 while Tightend Touchdown paid $6.80 and $8.60.

If in fact this was Mizdirection’s last race, her career finished with 11 wins in 17 starts.

The mare, coming off a five-month layoff, was trained by Mike Puype.

ALSO:

Favorite Dank wins Filly and Mare Turf race

Groupie Doll a repeat winner in Filly and Mare Sprint

Ria Antonia wins Juvenile Fillies race on disqualification