Comma to the Top drills five furlongs for Futurity

COMMA TO THE TOP (Bwana Charlie) seeks to punctuate a banner run at Hollywood

Park's autumn meet with a victory in the $750,000 CashCall Futurity (G1) on

Saturday at the Inglewood, California, venue. To prepare for that run, the Peter

Miller trainee sped five furlongs in :59 2/5 over the track's Cushion Track on

Sunday.

Rising from a maiden win in $50,000 claiming company to a graded scorer when

taking the Generous S. (G3) on November 27, Comma to the Top seeks his fifth

straight victory in the 1 1/16-mile Cushion Track test, which is expected to

attract 13 juveniles.

The Florida-bred gelding aims to complete an unprecedented "Triple Crown"

sweep at the meet after scores in the Real Quiet S. on the main track and the

Generous S. on turf in his previous two outings.

Miller expects to see Comma to the Top in his customary position of setting

the pace under Corey Nakatani.

"He's the speed in my mind," Miller said. "He could rate, but I think he's

faster than the other horses."

Miller explained the name his charge's uncommon name.

"One of the owners' young kids was learning to write and couldn't say

apostrophe," Miller explained. "Comma to the Top is slang for apostrophe."

The 44-year-old native of Los Angeles hopes to cap a sizzling meet with a

Futurity victory. Miller has recorded nine firsts, two seconds and nine thirds

with 26 starters for a winning percentage of 35.

Comma to the Top was joined on the Sunday work tab by AWESOME PATRIOT

(Awesome Again), who toured five panels in :59 4/5 for Hall of Fame trainer Bob

Baffert, the leader in Futurity wins with five.

The dark bay colt broke his maiden during the Oak Tree meet in his initial

try, then ran fifth in the Jack Goodman S. He'll enter the Futurity following a

third in the Hollywood Prevue S. (G3) on November 20.

Comma to the Top and and Awesome Patriot are expected to be joined in the

gate by J P'S GUSTO (Successful Appeal), CLUBHOUSE RIDE (Candy Ride 

[Arg]), INDUSTRY LEADER (Cherokee Run), HIGH LEVEL JEFF (Vindication), BOXEUR

DES RUES (Smart Strike), GOURMET DINNER (Trippi), RUSTLER HUSTLER (Ecton Park),

CRIMSON CHINA (Giant's Causeway), RIVETING REASON (Fusaichi Pegasus), RONIN DAX

(Tapit) and SLAMMER TIME (Grand Slam).

Three other candidates worked at Hollywood Park on Saturday: Industry Leader,

who went one mile in 1:39 1/5; Slammer Time, who posted three-quarters in 1:14;

and Riveting Reason, who got five furlongs in 1:00 3/5.

Gourmet Dinner and Rustler Hustler are scheduled to be flown to Hollywood

Park on Tuesday from Florida. Gourmet Dinner won the rich Delta Downs Jackpot S.

(G3) in his last start while Rustler Hustler has captured his last two stakes on

turf at Belmont and Monmouth.

Crimson China, a recent acquisition by Team Valor International, is scheduled

to arrive Thursday from England. The bat colt has won one of two starts on

all-weather tracks.