Vernon O. Underwood

TRACK BANDIT PREVIEWS

Sunday's $100,000 Vernon O. Underwood S. (G3) drew only six entrants, but a

couple of top-notch sprinters, IN SUMMATION (Put It Back) and GREG'S GOLD (Lake

George), make the six-furlong heat an intriguing event. Both Grade 1 winners

have displayed excellent form this season, and we'll give the edge to In

Summation.

Winner of the six-furlong Bing Crosby H. (G1) at Del Mar,  the versatile

In Summation has shown the ability to adapt to any racing surface. The

four-year-old missed a scheduled appearance in the Breeders' Cup Sprint (G1) due

to a minor setback, but he's trained forwardly for more than a month for

conditioner Christophe Clement, recording three sharp works recently over the

Cushion Track at Hollywood Park. In Summation will bring a three-race win streak

into the Underwood, and the dark bay owns good tactical speed and a good post

(3). Corey Nakatani will ride.

BUSHWACKER (Outflanker) doesn't own the BRIS Speed ratings of his main

rivals, but he's quick and exits an encouraging front-running score over

allowance/optional claiming rivals at Hollywood. The five-year-old owns plenty

of stakes experience, placing in a couple of black-type events, and he's run

well over the Cushion Track. The Bill Currin charge will probably offer good

value, and he's a threat to last a long way on the front end..

Greg's Gold didn't like the slop at Monmouth when eighth in the Breeders' Cup

Sprint last time, but the six-year-old

gelding appears to have rebounded nicely, drilling a couple of bullets at

Hollywood and Santa Anita in preparation. Trained by David Hofmans, Greg's Gold

will likely come running from off the pace and favors the Cushion Track, winning

the Tiznow S. at Hollywood this spring and finishing a close, if troubled, second in the

Ancient Title (G1) at Oak Tree two starts back. We definitely

respect the gray.

DOUBLE ACTION (Double Honor) will enter this test for the dangerous Jerry

Hollendorfer. The three-year-old displayed promising form in two starts

prior to an unplaced effort last time in the Select S. over a sloppy track at Monmouth, winning

the Pirate's Bounty H. and finishing a close second in the Gallant Bob H. The

sophomore colt faces a class check against these rivals, but he's posted a

couple of encouraging morning drills in preparation. We give him a chance to

rebound off his last start and recommend considering him for the bottom of the

exotics at a price.

COUNCIL MEMBER (Seattle Slew), formerly based in Europe, made his U.S. bow in

May and has competed strictly on the East Coast since then. He's turned in some

solid efforts this season, but he didn't fare well last time when a well-beaten

third in the Sport Page H. (G3) at Aqueduct. We're sentimentally rooting for the

son of the late, great Seattle Slew, but we'll just watch to see how he does in

his first start for Hofmans.

QUINTON'S FLEET (Snowbound) is a new addition to the Mike Mitchell stable,

but the three-year-old will step up in class off a disappointing showing in the

October 13 Saguaro S. at Turf Paradise. He's also never started on a synthetic

track. We'll give him a race at this level.