Vernon O. Underwood

TRACK BANDIT PREVIEWS

Seven horses will contest Sunday’s Vernon O. Underwood S. (G3), and MACHISMO
(Trippi) looks like the one to catch. Runner-up in both the El Conejo H. (G3)
and Sunshine Millions Sprint earlier this year, the John Sadler runner stepped
up in class and was never a factor in the Dubai Golden Shaheen (UAE-G1) in late
March, checking in eighth. He returns off a 253-day freshening here, and we like
his chances on the front end. With little pressure up front, jockey Mike Smith
should be able to ration the five-year-old’s speed for the latter stages.

Multiple stakes hero DELTA STORM (Storm Boot) exits a pair of respectable
efforts, finishing third in the Ancient Title (G1) and fourth in the Breeders’
Cup Turf Sprint, and could relish the drop on Sunday. Trained by Mike Mitchell,
the eight-year-old will bring outstanding BRIS numbers into his Cushion Track
debut and owns good tactical speed. Jockey Rafael Bejarano will look to stalk
and pounce aboard the bay gelding.

Grade 2 winner NOBLE COURT (Doneraile Court) is a logical threat, but the
one-run closer doesn’t figure to receive a favorable set-up. Winner of the 7
1/2-furlong Ack Ack H. (G3) over the track this summer, the five-year-old
gelding came up a little short when third by a length in the 2008 Underwood. We
won’t be surprised to a similar outcome this year.

Multiple Argentinean stakes winner and Group 1-placed MR. CACHT (Arg)
(Numerous) appears to be training forwardly for his U.S. debut and is one to
consider for the exotics at long odds. A stellar six-for-seven this year, the
five-year-old is eligible to keep his momentum going in his first outing for
Jeff Mullins.

TALKIN TO MOM ROO (You and I) finished second in the Bing Crosby (G1) three
back, but he’s shown little in two starts since then, earning disappointing BRIS
Speed ratings. The six-year-old gelding does own an excellent 4-2-2-0 mark at
Hollywood, so he’s capable of outperforming our expectations.

KINSALE KING (Yankee Victor) exits a front-running victory over
allowance/optional claiming rivals at Santa Anita, but he’s poorly drawn at the
rail for his stakes bow. We’ll give him a race at this level. PAUL’S HOPE (Lake
Austin) has been freshened off an unplaced effort versus stakes rivals at
Fairplex. His two starts before that at Del Mar were solid, but the gelding is
winless in nine attempts over Hollywood’s Cushion Track. We’ll let the late
runner beat us in this spot.