Vernon O. Underwood J

AMERICAN

GRADED STAKES 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.