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There is Somethinaboutlaura in the A Gleam

Somethinaboutlaura gleamed at Hollywood Friday night (Benoit Photo) Miller, Sikura, Todaro et al's SOMETHINABOUTLAURA (Dance Floor) stalked just in behind the early pace during Friday night's $150,000 A Gleam Invitational H. (G2) at Hollywood Park, came wide into the stretch and rallied under jockey Victor Espinoza to successfully defend her title in the seven-furlong test by three parts of a length. The Jerry Hollendorfer-trained five-year-old stopped the clock in 1:21 4/5 on the Cushion Track, giving back $12.60, $6.80 and $9 as the 5-1 second choice in the 10-horse field. Somethinaboutlaura was quickest from the gate when the doors opened, but settled three deep as Strong Faith (Pioneering) and Getback Time (Gilded Time) battled it out through fractions of :22 2/5 and :45. As Getback Time began to tire in the stretch, Strong Faith opened up by a length, getting six furlongs in 1:09 2/5. That's when Espinoza hit the gas on Somethinaboutlaura. The chestnut mare put in a sustained rally to pass Strong Faith, earning her 11th stakes victory in the process. "She always runs like she's in slow motion, but she's right there every single time," Espinoza said. "She's just a great mare. She seems to be relaxing better now that she's getting older. She takes her time and doesn't spend her energy in the beginning. She just keeps going and going and she loves doing it."

Strong Faith was game in defeat, paying $33.20 and $29.20 at 51-1 while ending the $244.40 exacta ($1). Theverythoughtof U (Unbridled's Song) was briefly blocked around the turn, but moved to the inside and split rivals in the stretch to finish a clear third, returning $9 and completing the $1,419 trifecta ($1) as the 5-1 third pick. Dona Amelia (Chi) (Big Blue), sent off the 83-1 longest shot on the board, finished the very nice $25,525.50 superfecta ($1) (10-3-9-5), and was followed by Getback Time, 4-5 favorite Pussycat Doll (Real Quiet), River Savage (Brz) (First American), Clinet (Ire) (Docksider), Candy Jo (Maria's Mon) and Political Web (Petionville).

Somethinaboutlaura captured last year's A Gleam by a nose, and has since recorded six other stakes scores besides Friday's win, including the Redondo Beach S., B. Thoughtful S., Work the Crowd H. and Foster City H. this season. She's also placed in seven other black-type events, such as last year's Milady Breeders' Cup H. (G2) and El Encino S. (G2), and now sports a 27-15-4-3 mark with $913,315 in lifetime earnings.

Bred in California by Lilley Ranch, Somethinaboutlaura is out of the winning Crystals of Ice (It's Freezing) and brought $375,000 at the 2006 Fasig-Tipton Kentucky Winter Mixed Sale. She has an unraced sophomore full sister named Dancing on the Ice.

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