Vernon O. Underwood Stakes

The Vernon O. Underwood Stakes is an American Thoroughbred horse race held annually at Hollywood Park Racetrack in Inglewood, California. Raced in late November, the Grade III event is open to horses age three and older. It is contested on Cushion Track synthetic dirt at a distance of six furlongs.

Inaugurated as the National Sprint Championship Stakes, in 1990 the name was changed to honor Vernon O. Underwood (1907–1990), a California businessman. After Hollywood Park closed, the race is run as the Midnight Lute Stakes at Santa Anita Park.

In 2001, H. Eugene Reed's eight-year-old gelding Men's Exclusive became the first back-to-back winner of the race and its oldest winner.

The race was run in two divisions in 1981, 1982, 1984,1986, and in 2016

Records

Speed record:

• 1:07.79 - Sailors Sunset (2006) (new track record on Cushion Track)

Most wins:

• 2 - Men's Exclusive (2000, 2001)

Most wins by a trainer:

• 3 - John W. Sadler (1989, 1990, 2010)

Winners since 1989

Earlier winners

• 1988 - Gallant Sailor
• 1987 - Hilco Scamper
• 1986 - Bedside Promise
• 1986 - Nasib
• 1985 - Pancho Villa
• 1984 - Fifty Six In a Row
• 1984 - Lovlier Linda
• 1983 - Fighting Fit
• 1982 - Mad Key
• 1982 - Unpredictable
• 1981 - Shanekite
• 1981 - Smokite

References

• Sailors Sunset record win in the 2006 Vernon O. Underwood Stakes at Bloodhorse.com
• 2008 Vernon O. Underwood Stakes preview at the NTRA