Bonde's big plan: Surround Lacie Girl

ALBANY, Calif. - How good is undefeated Lacie Girl?

Trainer Jerry Hollendorfer may get a good indication Saturday when she competes in the $60,000-added Star Ball Handicap at Golden Gate Fields. The 1 1/16-mile race will be her first try around two turns and her stakes debut.

"We just have to try her long," Hollendorfer said.

Lacie Girl has won her three starts, all in six-furlong races. She has accomplished each with relative ease and has a solid one-mile work heading into Saturday's stakes against seven rivals.

Crazy Ensign, De Goddaughter, Erica's Smile, Lindsay Jean, and Mimi's Caf� all have stakes victories, while Aunt Sophie and Sea Reel are stakes placed.

Trainer Jeff Bonde will triple team Lacie Girl with Erica's Smile, De Goddaughter, and Aunt Sophie.

Bonde admitted Lacie Girl looked good beating two of his other runners, Genteel World and Demo Memo, "but she'll be meeting better in here," he said. "I've got one who'll go for the lead [Erica's Smile], one who'll sit in midpack [De Goddaughter], and one stone closer [Aunt Sophie]. I should have the right style."

Lacie Girl didn't make her debut until Sept. 11.

"We had to turn her out a couple times because of little things, but we always liked how she ran," Hollendorfer said. "Sometimes you have to [be patient]. They make you have patience."

A daughter of Editor's Note out of the Vice Regent mare Dream Regally, Lacie Girl should not be bothered by two turns. In fact, she may be better going long than sprinting.

"There's nothing she's shown me sprinting that suggests she can't go longer," said her rider, Russell Baze, who has been aboard for each start.

Although Lacie Girl has either set or contested the pace in each start, Baze is confident she will relax. He said she doesn't need to be on the lead.

"She's very professional," Hollendorfer said. "She'll do what you want."

Hollendorfer has been waiting to try Lacie Girl in a route. If she passes this test, he might consider the La Canada Series at Santa Anita.

"You always hope you have one good enough to run in that 4-year-old series," he said.

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