La Force to get audition on dirt in optional claimer

CYPRESS, Calif. – La Force, a 3-year-old filly trained by Paddy Gallagher, has yet to live up to expectations since she arrived from Europe last year.

La Force is winless in nine starts in this country, all on turf, including a third in the Surfer Girl Stakes in her American debut last October.

On Friday, La Force will start on dirt for the first time in a one-mile optional claimer at Los Alamitos.

“We’re trying something,” Gallagher said. “All of her races are the same. She hasn’t gone one way or another. She gets beats three or four lengths each time.”

La Force, who races for Ward and Roberta Williford and Chuck Winner, is part of a field of six in the day’s seventh race.

Friday’s program marks the halfway point of the 12-day Los Angeles County Fair meeting at Los Alamitos, which runs through Sept. 24. The Santa Anita autumn meeting begins on Sept. 29. Friday’s card is plagued by short fields, with 47 runners in eight races.

KEY CONTENDERS

La Force, by Power

Last 3 Beyers: 74-80-71

◗ A German-bred, La Force was stakes-placed in Italy in her final start in Europe as a 2-year-old. This year, she is winless in five starts, including a third in an optional claimer at 1 1/8 miles on turf at Santa Anita in June.

◗ La Force was ninth, beaten 3 1/4 lengths, in an optional claimer at 1 1/16 miles on turf at Del Mar on Aug. 20.

◗ On Aug. 7, La Force worked five furlongs in 59.80 seconds on dirt at Del Mar, the fastest of 41 works that morning.

Online Request, by Jersey Town

Last 3 Beyers: 79-62-66

◗ Online Request has won three of her last four starts, a span that began with a win in a $20,000 claimer for maidens at Santa Anita in May. Her only loss during that period was a fifth in a $40,000 claimer on turf at Del Mar on Aug. 6.

◗ Online Request won an optional claimer-starter allowance at a mile on dirt at Del Mar on Aug. 23, disputing the pace throughout. She is likely to set the pace on Friday.

◗ “She continues to improve,” trainer Mark Glatt said. “We tried her on the turf for a lack of a [suitable] race and that didn’t work out. If you throw that out, her last three have been good.

“We’ll see if she can take a bit of a class leap.”

That’s a Lady, by City Zip

Last 3 Beyers: 75-73-82

◗ That’s a Lady is winless in 11 starts since beating maidens in May 2016. Trained by John Sadler, That’s a Lady was third in an optional claimer at a mile at Del Mar on Sept. 1, and a repeat of that performance will make her a factor on Friday.