Lacie Girl wins Star Ball to remain unbeaten

ALBANY, Calif. - Lacie Girl ($6.40) improved her record to 4-0, winning her stakes and route debut by a nose over Lindsay Jean in the $60,600 Star Ball Handicap at Golden Gate Fields on Saturday.

The 3-year-old Lacie Girl won her first three starts in sprints. She sat off fast fractions set by Erica's Smile, who covered the first six furlongs of the 1 1/16-mile race in 1:08.87.

Lindsay Jean, who was nearest Erica's Smile to the stretch, grabbed the lead at midstretch. The multiple stakes winner, who won a stakes over the track last December, could not hold off Lacie Girl, who clocked 1:41.71.

"I think her race was very encouraging for the future," said winning trainer Jerry Hollendorfer, who will point Lacie Girl to the La Canada series at Santa Anita.

"We thought Erica's Smile would go to the lead, and Russell (Baze, the winning rider) was able to position her perfectly. We determined (Lacie Girl) could be placed anywhere."