'Dough' tries to get over hump

INGLEWOOD, Calif. - Ran for the Dough has been mired at the first allowance condition for so long that trainer Paddy Gallagher has almost lost count. But Gallagher has not lost count of the purse money Ran for the Dough continues to earn.

"She's a Cal-bred going open; she brings home a nice check every time," Gallagher said.

A 5-year-old mare by Bertrando, is a six-time loser at the first condition, but she cannot be dismissed Thursday at Hollywood Park. That is because she meets only four others in the race-7 feature, a 1 1/16-mile allowance with a $51,000 purse. It is a class at which Ran for the Dough has just been plain stuck.

"She has been," Gallagher agreed. "I don't know if that's good or bad."

It certainly is good for Ran for the Dough's owners. Ran for the Dough has lost eight straight since winning a claiming race last June, but six in-the-money finishes have boosted her career earnings to $152,694.

Jockey Danny Sorenson will be in a familiar spot Thursday - setting the pace on Ran for the Dough. She has not raced since finishing third March 2 at Santa Anita, but her early speed, established ability at the level, and acceptable condition as shown by her workout pattern make her a viable candidate to win.

The most likely winner in the race, however, might be a filly who has not been stuck at the one-other-than level, Andujar. A daughter of Quiet American who was imported from France, Andujar has never raced on the main track, but her trainer, Julio Canani, was talking about putting her on dirt even before her first start in the U.S. on March 9.

finished second in that downhill sprint, then returned with a four-length victory in a maiden sprint that also was run down the hill. She continues to work in crisp fashion, and if jockey Jose Valdivia can prevent her from lugging in - which she has done in both her U.S. starts - she may find the weak main-track company to her liking. A 4-year-old, Andujar has won 1 of 7 starts.

Also in the field is , whose two previous starts at the class level resulted in fourth-place finishes. She is trained by Bruce Headley and finished a head behind Ran for the Dough the last time they met, on March 2.

One Charming Devil ships in from Bay Meadows, where she won a four-horse race on a sloppy track in her last start. Kalookan Lass has not raced since last June.