Santa Anita: Somethingabouther targets confidence boost in Friday turf allowance

Benoit & Associates

Somethingabouther will get some class relief in an allowance race Friday at Santa Anita.

ARCADIA, Calif. – From last July through Jan. 1, Somethingabouther ran in seven consecutive stakes in Virginia and California, never winning. She has reached a point in her career where a confidence boost might help.

The string of stakes appearancces ends Friday when Somethingabouther starts in a $58,000 allowance race over a mile on turf for 3-year-old fillies at Santa Anita.

Owned by Deron Pearson and trained by Jim Cassidy, Somethingabouther beat maidens in her debut at Indiana Downs last July. She was seventh, beaten 2 1/2 lengths in the Blue Norther Stakes over a mile on turf here Jan. 1.

“She runs hard every time, but she doesn’t have that quick kick at the end,” Cassidy said. “She’s kind of steady. She always tried, and you can’t fault her for that.”

By War Chant, Somethingabouther is most effective when racing just behind the leaders. She was third in the Pike Place Dancer Stakes at Golden Gate Fields in October when racing a length or two behind the pace. She was seven lengths off the lead in the Blue Norther.

“We made a mistake a few times,” Cassidy said. “If you grab her, she’ll go back to last. You have to let her do her thing.”

There will be only eight starters in the allowance race since the temporary turf rails are 30 feet out from the permanent inside position. When the rails are out, the safety limit is reduced for turf races. The allowance race drew nine fillies. Pussycat Lips, second in the Grade 3 Miesque Stakes at Betfair Hollywood Park on Nov. 24, is stuck on the also-eligible list. She was third in an optional claimer here Jan. 19.

Birdlover was second in that optional claimer and fourth in the Miesque. The quick turnaround is not a concern for trainer Doug O’Neill.

“We’re bringing her a little quick, but she’s doing so well,” O’Neill said. “She fits this condition well.”

In the optional claimer, Birdlover was beaten 2 3/4 lengths by Jubliant Girl after racing in traffic in early stretch.

“I think she would have won,” O’Neill said.

Trainer Patrick Biancone starts Tap the Magic, who was third in an allowance race over seven furlongs on the main track Dec. 31.

“I think she prefers the turf,” Biancone said. “I think we’ll be competitive there.”