How to bet the 2023 Mizdirection Stakes

A total of nine fillies and mares will travel 6 1/2 furlongs down the Hillside Turf Course in Saturday’s $100,000 Mizdirection S. at Santa Anita. The feature attracted multiple legitimate contenders in a race that looks mostly wide-open to me. Trainer Phil D’Amato has a dangerous pair for the tilt, including #1 Honey Pants, who will make her first run since joining this outfit for her seasonal debut.

The gray daughter of Cairo Prince has performed well in the stakes ranks in her career and could be any kind trying the Santa Anita turf for the initial time. This Kentucky-bred mare owns a big turn of foot and has been working in solid fashion in advance of her five-year-old bow. She has also run well off the layoff in the past. I think that there is enough pace in the affair to aid this one’s late run with Umberto Rispoli in the silks.

Carla Gaines’ #8 Big Summer is a consistently good performer with a fine track record going down the hill with a 4-3-1-0 mark. By Mr. Big, the five-year-old has finished first or second in seven straight encounters, the last four coming in black-type races, making the bay a must-use. The California-bred is adept at running on any kind of ground and her best performance will make her tough to fend off late with regular pilot Joe Bravo in the silks once again.

#3 Freedom Flyer didn’t fire on the dirt in her latest venture but is two-for-four with a placing at the distance, led by a score in the Wishing Well S. in February. The Constitution five-year-old has good early zip but doesn’t need the lead to succeed and comes into the race fit with four useful morning moves in preparation for the heat. The presence of leading jockey Juan Hernandez in the stirrups is an obvious plus as well.

I will also dabble with #9 One Silk Stocking for the exotics at a fair price. The Doug O’Neill pupil put in a good prep race for this in the allowance ranks most recently, and her best performance gives her a top-three chance with Antonio Fresu taking the reins.

Mizdirection Wagers

• $25 win: #1 Honey Pants ($25)
• $1 superfecta: 1,8 with 1,8 with 3,9 with all ($24)