Extra yardage should help Lemon Supreme

ARCADIA, Calif. - For longshot backers, it was painful to watch Lemon Supreme run through the stretch of an optional claimer at Del Mar on Aug. 27. She was in traffic briefly and closed well to lose the six-furlong race by a neck at 9-1.

"If it would have been six and a half, she would have won easily," trainer David Hofmans said.

The opportunity will arrive in Friday's second race at Oak Tree at Santa Anita. Lemon Supreme is back in an optional claimer at 6 1/2 furlongs and appears to have every chance to record her third win.

"I think she's just coming into her own," Hofmans said.

Owned by breeders Rod and Lorraine Rodriguez, Lemon Supreme was trained by Christopher Paasch for her first five starts, which includes wins in her first two races - a maiden race and an allowance race in 2008. A 4-year-old filly by Lemon Drop Kid, Lemon Supreme is winless in four starts this year. The Aug. 27 race was her brightest performance.

"The Lemon Drop Kids develop later on," Hofmans said.

More importantly for Friday's race, there is pace for Lemon Supreme to follow from Sleep Tight and See N Win. They were second and third in an optional claimer at five furlongs on turf at Del Mar on Sept. 2.

There will be support for the John Sadler-trained Mona de Momma, who was unbeaten in two starts at Del Mar - a maiden race and an optional claimer. A stalker, Mona de Momma stalked the pace in both races and won comfortably.

The unknown runner is Paula's Girl, a 4-year-old Chilean-bred filly making her first start in the United States. Now trained by Jenine Sahadi, Paula's Girl won 2 of 12 starts in Chile, including the Group 1 Mil Guineas in August 2008.

Sahadi is a little perplexed what to think of the filly, who ran at distances ranging from six furlongs to 1 1/4 miles. In most of her starts in Chile, Paula's Girl rallied from the back of the field.

"I have no clue how she'll fit," Sahadi said. "She needs to run and she'll probably need a race. I don't even know what she'll do when the gate opens. I'll be as curious as [anyone]."

Friday's program begins at 2 p.m. Pacific. The track is offering free general admission on Fridays this fall, with the exception of the Breeders' Cup program on Nov. 6.