Stalking strategy pays off again for Laura's Light in San Clemente

DEL MAR, Calif. - Laura’s Light is making a career of hanging around the right places.

At the Santa Anita winter-spring meeting that ended last month Laura’s Light won three turf stakes. In two, she stalked the pace before taking the lead in early stretch.

The strategy worked just as well at Del Mar on Saturday in the Grade 2 San Clemente Stakes for 3-year-old fillies at a mile on turf. Ridden by Abel Cedillo, Laura’s Light ($4.40) stalked pacesetter Cheermeister through a solid pace of 22.46 for the opening quarter-mile and 46.15 for a half-mile and took the lead in early stretch.

“They were flying and I was a little worried being close to the fast pace like that,” winning trainer Peter Miller said.

Laura’s Light led by a length with a furlong remaining and won by three-quarters of a length over 19-1 Guitty, who was last in the field of 10 on the first turn. Warren’s Showtime, who was last with a half-mile remaining, closed with interest between fillies to finish third, a half-length behind Guitty.

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Laura’s Light ran a mile on turf in 1:34.16 and earned a career-best Beyer Speed Figure of 85.

“She can go to the lead or she can be close,” Cedillo said. “I know my filly. She’s a special filly.”

She’s So Special finished fourth, followed by Croughavouke, Applecross, Cheermeister, Over Attracted, Little Bird, and Lazy Daisy.

Laura’s Light, who is owned by Gary Barber, has won five of seven starts and has earned $304,370. She won the Blue Norther Stakes for 2-year-old fillies at a mile on turf last December, leading throughout, and the Grade 3 Sweet Life Stakes at 5 1/2 furlongs on turf in February from a stalking position.

After a fourth in the Bourbonette Oaks on the synthetic track at Turfway Park in Kentucky on March 14, Laura’s Light won the Grade 3 Honeymoon Stakes at 1 1/8 miles on May 30 as a stalker.

The $152,500 San Clemente was Laura’s Light’s second start at Del Mar. She was second in the Grade 3 Jimmy Durante Stakes for 2-year-old fillies at a mile on turf here last November in her first start for Miller and Barber.

The Honeymoon was the longest race of Laura’s Light’s career. She could be tried at that distance again in the Grade 1 Del Mar Oaks on turf on Aug. 22, Miller said.