Comma to the Top to return to the races in the Vernon O. Underwood Stakes
After an extended layoff, trained by Peter Miller for owner Gary Barber’s Comma to the Top will make his return to the races in the Grade 3, $100,000 Vernon O. Underwood Stakes at Hollywood Park on 26 November, 2011, over at a distance of 6 furlongs on synthetic surface for 3-year-old and above males.
The Grade 3, Vernon O. Underwood Stakes have reeled in 9 three-year-olds and above, including a trio from Bob Baffert which is led by the son of Langfuhr, Euroears, the Songandaprayer’s 4-year-old colt Quiet Invader and the last Bob Baffert trainee to make the Underwood Stakes field is the son of Unbridled’s Song, the 5-year-old Irrefutable.
The Hollywood’ Horse of the meet back in 2010, Comma to the Top with a single placed finish in his four starts this season, had a pretty awful Kentucky Derby where he was never in the race or contention as he finished an unplaced 19th on the day to winner Animal Kingdom at Churchill Downs over at 1 ¼ miles on 7 May, 2011.
Prior to the Kentucky Derby, Comma to the Top had an amazing outing in the Grade 1 Santa Anita Derby, where he ran a big race but was unfortunate not to win it as he finished a narrow second to winner Midnight Interlude over at 1 1/8 miles on 9 April, 2011 over Santa Anita’s dirt course.
The Florida bred son of Bwana Charlie, out of mare Maggie’s Storm by Stormy Atlantic, the 3-year-old gelding Comma to the Top kicked off the season in the Grade 3 El Camino Real Derby over at a distance of 1 1/8 miles.
He finished fourth at Golden Gate Fields to winner Silver Medallion. Comma to the Top finished a fourth again in his second race in the Grade 2 San Felipe over at 1 1/16 miles over at Santa Anita Park’s dirt course to winner Premier Pegasus who topped the distance in 1 minute and 41.23 seconds.
Though Comma to the Top’s ultimate goal is the Grade 1 Malibu Stakes on the opening day of the Santa Anita meet on 26 December, 2011.
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