Could Be Reneesgotzip's Year in Turf Sprint

With the retirement of Mizdirection, winner of the Breeders' Cup Turf Sprint (gr. I) the last two years, this could be Reneesgotzip's year to emerge on top in the 6 1/2-furlong race over Santa Anita Park's unique downhill turf course.



A 5-year-old daughter of City Zip   trained by Peter Miller for the Lanni Family Trust, Reneesgotzip finished third, 1 3/4 lengths back, in the 2012 Turf Sprint and deadheated with Tightend Touchdown for second, just a half-length behind Mizdirection, last year.

Reneesgotzip will break from the rail in the 14-horse Turf Sprint, that also has two also-eligibles in Za Approval and Ageless. Edwin Maldonado will ride.



Just as she was a year ago, Reneesgotzip is a fresh horse, with only two 2014 starts previous to the Breeders' Cup. In her first start this year, the mare was third in the Rancho Bernardo Handicap (gr. III) Aug. 17 and then won the C.E.R.F. Stakes Sept. 3, both at Del Mar.



With the exception of an inexplicable seventh in the 2012 Santa Anita Sprint Championship (gr. I) at six furlongs on an artificial surface, Reneesgotzip has been pure hickory in her 15 starts, with eight wins, four seconds, and two thirds. She has earned $869,860.



It bodes well for Miller's charge that West Coast-based horses have won all four of the Turf Sprints held at Santa Anita during the race's six-year history,



Also back for another try is Mr. Amore Stable's Tightend Touchdown, trained on the East Coast by Jason Servis. Tightend Touchdown has won the Pennsylvania Governor's Cup, finished second to Ben's Cat in the Parx Dash Handicap (gr. III), and third in the Turf Monster Handicap (gr. III) in four starts since the 2013 Breeders' Cup.

Javier Castellano is aboard from the four post.

Returning over the same course and distance is Home Run Kitten, who just got up at the wire to win the Eddie D Stakes (gr. IIIT) over Ambitious Brew, also entered in the Turf Sprint. Others coming out of the Eddie D are Unbridled's Note (ninth).



As befitting its status one of the most exciting races in the World Championships lineup, the Turf Sprint is also one of the most popular with horsemen, drawing 29 pre-entries this year.