Somethinaboutlaura poised for milestone

INGLEWOOD, Calif. - The consistency that Somethinaboutlaura has shown in her career has led to top-three finishes in 11 of 14 starts and earnings of $267,735. One thing missing from her accomplishments is a graded stakes win, a goal that could be achieved in Saturday's $150,000 A Gleam Handicap at Hollywood Park.

does not face strong opposition in the Grade 2 A Gleam, which is run at seven furlongs. Behaving Badly, the winner of the Grade 1 Santa Monica Handicap at Santa Anita in January, would have been a heavy favorite but was not entered.

Whether the distance suits Somethinaboutlaura remains a question to trainer Jerry Hollendorfer. The filly's two stakes wins, in minor races at Bay Meadows, came around two turns, but Somethinaboutlaura has been effective in sprints, placing in two sprint stakes earlier this year.

"I don't really know" her best distance, Hollendorfer said.

Hollendorfer learned this year that Somethinaboutlaura is better with less strenuous works between races.

"I've learned to back off a little bit," he said.

Somethinaboutlaura was third in the Grade 2 Milady Breeders' Cup Handicap at 1 1/16 miles here on June 3, her last start. She led for much of the race and finished three-quarters of a length behind the winner, Proposed.

"We've been defeated by some tough horses," Hollendorfer said.

None of the other five fillies and mares in the A Gleam are coming out of such a race. finished second and third in the Desert Stormer Handicap at six furlongs on May 28. They have the best chances of beating Somethinaboutlaura.

Maryfield, the starting highweight at 117 pounds, led to early stretch of the Desert Stormer and finished 1 1/4 lengths behind My Miss Storm Cat. Trainer Doug O'Neill is counting on less early pressure in the A Gleam.

"I think the earlier fractions might be kinder," he said.

A quick pace would help Gn. Group Meeting, who makes her first start since finishing fourth in the California Cup Distaff last November. She won a stakes at Fairplex Park last year.

"If they go too fast, I can pick up a couple of them," said Gn. Group Meeting's trainer, Clifford Sise. "Seven furlongs should be right up her alley. She's training well. She's holding her weight and she's happy."

Thru n' Thru back on 16 days' rest

Thru n' Thru, a maiden race winner in her debut on June 15, makes a quick turnaround in Saturday's $100,000 Landaluce Stakes for 2-year-old fillies at six furlongs.

Trained by Bob Baffert, Thru n' Thru won a five-furlong maiden race by a length over Coco Belle in the quick time of 57.82 seconds.

Baffert considered passing the Landaluce Stakes in favor of a race at Del Mar, but changed his mind after Thru n' Thru worked six furlongs in 1:13 on Monday.

"She went easy," Baffert said. "She looks good, and I thought I might as well run her."

Coco Belle returns in the Landaluce Stakes, but the race is without the first three finishers in the Cinderella on May 27 - Richwoman, Sharoana, and Lost on Champagne.

The Landaluce has six other fillies who beat maidens in their last start - Doubloon City, Hello Irish, Holly Torque Tango, Pinata, Shawklit Sundae, and Swiss Rose.

Shawklit Sundae was an easy winner of a maiden race at five furlongs on June 8. She won by three-quarters of a length but was not urged in the final furlong by jockey David Flores.

Pinata is making her first start in California. She won a maiden race at 4 1/2 furlongs by three lengths at Pimlico May 5. The Landaluce is her first start for trainer Peter Miller.

Holly Torque Tango has not started since beating maidens by 5 1/2 lengths at 4 1/2 furlongs on May 11. She was offered in the Barretts May sale of 2-year-olds in training but was not sold.

Holly Torque Tango led throughout her maiden win, but trainer Brian Koriner said the filly has shown more patience in recent workouts and is not speed crazy.

"She's not a zero to 90" miles-per-hour horse, he said. "It doesn't look like three-quarters will be a problem."