Vernon O. Underwood

TRACK BANDIT PREVIEW

A field of eight will enter the starting gate for the $100,000 Vernon O.
Underwood S. (G3) over Hollywood’s dirt on Sunday. Highlighting the six-furlong
challenge is KELA (Numerous), who was scratched from the Cigar Mile H. (G1) on November 27
due to a fever.

The Mike Mitchell charge’s last performance was a runner-up placing in the
Breeders’ Cup Sprint (G1) after being strung seven-wide as he came into the
lane. That ended a two-race win streak, but the
six-year-old has earned triple-digit BRIS Speed figures in six of his last eight
races, including victories in the Bing Crosby Breeders’ Cup H. (G1) and Pat
O’Brien Breeders’ Cup H. (G2). Corey Nakatani will be
lifted in the saddle to pilot the bay.

WATCHEM SMOKEY (Alphabet Soup) comes off a runner-up performance in an
optional claimer, which came on the heels of a fifth-place outing in the Vosburgh
S. (G1). His record at Hollywood Park is unblemished in one start, which came last year when the Bobby Frankel trainee won this race. Edgar Prado will be making his fourth
straight appearance aboard
the four-year-old gelding.

MY COUSIN MATT (Matty G) finished one behind Kela in the Breeders’ Cup and
will hope to improve his position over that rival here. The one hole should
benefit him here, as Hollywood’s inside post is producing winners at a 20 percent clip.
This might give him the advantage he needs to knock off what will most likely be
the favorite come post time. The Jeff Mullins-trained five-year-old has yet to
win a race since an optional claimer back in May, but jockey Ramon Dominguez and
connections have a fair shot of breaking that streak here.

MY MASTER (Arg) (Southern Halo) is worth a look with morning-line odds of
12-1. The five-year-old only has one stakes race under his belt this year, a
close second in the Governor’s Cup H. in September. Despite this inexperience,
he has managed to post some nice showings at 6 1/2 furlongs after moving to the
barn of Ted West. The lack of that extra half-furlong may help his chances of
winning here. Jon Court has the call.

Dubai Golden Shaheen (UAE-G1) victor OUR NEW RECRUIT (Alphabet Soup) enters off a
dismal performance in the Breeders’ Cup in which the five-year-old finished 12th
after being repeatedly steadied. John Sadler has put him through a slew
of sharp workouts at Hollywood since then, however, and the chestnut horse looks to be in good form
for Sunday’s contest. Tyler Baze will make his fourth start aboard Our New
Recruit, two of which have resulted in a trip to the winner’s circle.

NEWARK (Benton Creek) could be another upset potential in the mix. The
four-year-old drilled three bullets in his last three works for trainer Keith
Bennett. He is coming off a pair of victories in a set of minor stakes races at
Turf Paradise. Victor Espinoza, who has won six over
the past week, will take the reins here.

TASTE OF PARADISE (Conquistador Cielo) is coming off a three-month layoff.
The five-year-old is one of the more experienced on the Hollywood surface for
this field, scoring
three times out of six starts. Despite the success, he may be outclassed in this
one. STAR CROSS (Arg) (Southern Halo) comes off a sub-standard performance in
his last race six months ago, the Mervyn Leroy H. (G2), where he broke
last and held that position for the entirety of the race, eventually being eased. Despite the rest, we will go against.