Comma to the Top seeks fifth straight in Futurity

Comma to the Top will switch back to the Cushion Track for Saturday’s Futurity (Benoit Photos) Few, if any, have ever attempted to sweep all three two-turn juvenile stakes at the Hollywood Park fall meet, but COMMA TO THE TOP (Bwana Charlie) is in line to do just that when he heads a field of 10 in Saturday’s $750,000 CashCall Futurity (G1). Won last year by eventual divisional champion Lookin at Lucky, the 1 1/16-mile heat formerly known as the Hollywood Futurity has long proven a lucrative stepping-stone for the following year’s classics. After winning just one of his first five starts, the gelded Comma to the Top has reeled off four wins in succession for trainer Peter Miller. After a pair of sprint wins at Golden Gate Fields, the Florida-bred stretched out successfully to take the Real Quiet S. over 1 1/16 miles by 6 1/4 lengths. He next transferred his good form to turf, landing the one-mile Generous S. (G3) by 1 3/4 lengths. Despite having to break from post 10 under Corey Nakatani on Saturday, Comma to the Top appears capable of making the lead again with an alert beginning. GOURMET DINNER (Trippi) is ready to pad to his bank account with more graded earnings in the Futurity. The Calder-based colt virtually assured himself a spot in the Kentucky Derby (G1) starting gate next May with a 2 1/4-length romp in the $1 million Delta Jackpot S. (G3) in Louisiana last month. The 20-1 upset occurred when wearing blinkers for the first time, and the Steve Standridge pupil has suffered only one defeat in five attempts to date when attempting a sweep of the Florida Stallion S. series in the October 16 In Reality division.

J P’S GUSTO (Successful Appeal), the early-season leader among
California-based juvenile colts when taking the Willard L. Proctor Memorial S.,
Hollywood Juvenile Championship (G3), Best Pal S. (G2) and Del Mar Futurity (G1)
in succession, has seen his luck turn south as the distances have increased. The
first setback following the Del Mar Futurity was a runner-up effort in the
Norfolk S. (G1). Though only beaten a length in that one, he was still sent off
as a 17-1 longshot in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile (G1). His distant sixth-place
finish, partially the result of a slow start, came in his dirt debut.

The stoutly-bred RUSTLER HUSTLER (Ecton Park) invades from the east for
trainer Rick Dutrow. He won or placed in all three synthetic attempts in
early-season dashes at Presque Isle Downs, but really found his calling on turf
when taking both the Continental Mile at Monmouth and the Gnome’s Gold S. at
Belmont in his last two. Ramon Dominguez, aboard for the latter win, will fly in
from New York in an attempt to catch John Velazquez in the race for leading
money-winning rider of 2010.

RIVETING REASON (Fusaichi Pegasus), who ran third in both the Del Mar
Futurity and Norfolk while still a maiden, got that monkey off his back with a 2
3/4-length decision on November 25. He will be joined by the likes of Barretts
Juvenile S. hero CLUBHOUSE RIDE (Candy Ride [Arg]), who was third to Gourmet
Dinner in the Delta Jackpot, and Hollywood Prevue S. (G3) runner-up INDUSTRY
LEADER (Cherokee Run).

HIGH LEVEL JEFF (Vindication), a sharp winner of his first two starts at
Calder, disappointed in his Cushion Track debut when fifth as the favorite in
the Hollywood Prevue. The Doug O’Neill trainee turned in his final morning prep
for the Futurity last week, blitzing five-eighths in a bullet :58. The Futurity
field is rounded out by California Cup Juvenile hero SLAMMER TIME (Grand Slam)
and Del Mar turf maiden winner RONIN DAX (Tapit).