by Vance Hanson
Though endowed with a bigger purse and higher graded status, the Grade 2,
$250,000 Citation Handicap arguably takes a back seat to the Grade 3, $100,000
Vernon O. Underwood Stakes at Hollywood Park on Saturday as far as intrigue. The
latter, a six-furlong Cushion Track dash oddly scheduled during Hollywood’s
annual Turf Festival weekend, has attracted three Grade 1 winners including the
veteran seven-year-old Euroears from the barn of Hall of Famer Bob Baffert.
Proving himself as one of the world’s leading sprinters this season with
scores in the Grade 1 Bing Crosby Stakes and Grade 2 Palos Verdes Stakes, and a
second in the Group 1 Dubai Golden Shaheen, Euroears found his one-dimensional
style inhospitable in his most recent outings in the Grade 1 Vosburgh Stakes and
Grade 1 Breeders’ Cup Sprint. With a clean break and an uncontested lead
generally required for success, Euroears found neither at Belmont and Churchill
and paid the price by trailing in both. While it’s impossible to predict what
will happen in the first hundred yards or so of the Underwood, it’s undeniable
that Euroears’ chances in the event will be heavily dependent on what occurs
soon after he leaves the gate.
Comma to the Top, the three-year-old gelding who ripped through the Real
Quiet Stakes, Grade 3 Generous Stakes on turf, and the Grade 1 CashCall Futurity
at last year’s Hollywood fall meet, makes his return to action in the Underwood
following a layoff of more than six months. The Peter Miller charge went
unplaced in his first two starts of the year and then finished second by a head
in the Grade 1 Santa Anita Derby. He was unable to run back to that effort in
the Grade 1 Kentucky Derby, fading to last in the field of 19 after pressing the
early pace.
The field’s other top-level winner, M One Rifle, has had limited success
since taking the 2009 Grade 1 Malibu Stakes. However, the five-year-old turned
in a brilliant effort in taking the Cool Frenchy Stakes over the Hollywood strip
in May, blasting five furlongs in :55 4/5. He most recently finished third in
the California Cup Sprint following a break of nearly four months.
In addition to Euroears, Baffert will saddle two legitimate contenders in
Irrefutable and Quiet Invader. The trailer in the Grade 1 Breeders’ Cup Dirt
Mile last time, Irrefutable is a more proven commodity at six furlongs having
missed narrowly in the Grade 1 Ancient Title Stakes and Grade 2 Smile Sprint
Handicap earlier in the year. The Grade 3-placed Quiet Invader made a successful
return to action on October 30 at Santa Anita, wiring second-level allowances
foes in a scorching 1:07 3/5 for three-quarters. It was the colt’s first start
in more than 17 months.
Other notables are the Grade 3-placed Pacific Ocean, who debuts Saturday for
trainer Mike Mitchell; Canonize, last seen running fourth in the 2010 Underwood;
and last-out Governor’s Cup hero Carbonite.
The Citation, contested at 1 1/16 miles on the turf, is headed by Grade 2 Oak
Tree Mile hero Jeranimo, who exits a seventh-place finish in the Grade 1
Breeders’ Cup Mile over ground that was playing more favorably to closers.
Though an infrequent winner this year, the five-year-old did hit the board in
the Grade 1 Eddie Read Stakes, Grade 1 Frank E. Kilroe Mile and Grade 2 Arcadia
Stakes earlier this term.
Bob Black Jack, the fragile winner of the 2008 Malibu, has strong class
credentials but has never run on grass before. Calimonco, who trailed in the Oak
Tree Mile, might contend with a return to the form that saw him run third by a
half-length in the Grade 2 Del Mar Mile two back.
Hoping to spring the upset are five of the top six finishers from the
November 5 Lure Stakes at Santa Anita. John Johny Jak, Assessment, Leroy’s
Dynameaux and War Element occupied the top four slots in that order, while Make
Music for Me made a modest late run to garner sixth place.