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 Year Winner Age Jockey Trainer Owner Time2017Silent Bird5Kent Desormeax Mark GlattNorman Stables, LLC1:09.392016Solid Wager, ST Joe Bay (Dead Heat)5,4Kent Desormeax, Victor Esponoza Peter Miller Barber, Gary and Cecil and Stanford Stable, Al Tamira Racing Stable and David A. Bernsen1:15.032016San Onofre6Alex SolisKaren HeadleyMatson Racing1:14.822014Distinctiv Passion4Mike E SmithJeffrey L. BondePeter Redekop B. C., Ltd.1:14.552013Majestic Stride4Edwin MaldonadoJeffrey L. BondeBrown/Klein/Lebherz1:08.872012Smiling Tiger5Rafael BejaranoJeffrey L. BondeAlan Klein/Philip Lebherz1:11.242011Pacific Ocean4Joel RosarioMike MitchellJMJ Racing Stable1:08.482010Cost of Freedom7Joe TalamoJohn W. SadlerGary & Cecil Barber1:08.462009Kinsale King4Martin GarciaCarl O'CallaghanPatrick Sheehy1:09.672008Johnny Eves4Garrett GomezJay M. RobbinsSharon Hilliard1:07.902007Bushwacker5Joseph TalamoWilliam L. CurrinCurrin & Alvin Eisman1:08.472006Sailors Sunset3Jon CourtMarcelo PolancoEverest stables1:07.792005Bordonaro4Pat ValenzuelaWilliam B. SpawrF. Carrillo & D. Casse1:08.112004Taste of Paradise5Jose Valdivia, Jr.Gary MandellaDavid Bloom1:08.042003Watchem Smokey3Julie KroneRobert J. FrankelEdmund A. Gann1:08.932002Debonair Joe3Julie KroneJuan Pablo SilvaLynne H. Ristad1:09:172001Men's Exclusive8Laffit Pincay, Jr.Wesley A. WardH. Eugene Reed1:09.042000Men's Exclusive7Laffit Pincay, Jr.Wesley A. WardH. Eugene Reed1:09.021999Five Star Day3Alex SolisC. Beau GreelyColumbine Stable1:09.911998Love That Jazz4Kent DesormeauxNeil DrysdaleIrving & Marge Cowan1:08.791997Tower Full5Corey NakataniCraig DollaseMoon S. Han1:08.171996Paying Dues4Pat DayClifford Sise, Jr.Ballantyne, Owen & Welty1:08.241995Powis Castle4Gary StevensRodney RashVistas Stables1:08.401994Wekiva Springs3Kent DesormeauxRobert Hess, Jr.Dizney & English1:08.371993Meafara4Gary StevensGary F. JonesFrank Muench1:10.011992Gundaghia5Gary StevensBob BaffertGoodman & Kieckhefer1:09.331991Individualist4Kent DesormeauxDavid HofmansGolden Eagle Farm1:08.861990Frost Free5Chris McCarronJohn W. SadlerTriple Dot Dash Stable & Vandervoort1:08.201989Olympic Prospect5Alex SolisJohn W. SadlerAlsdorf, Opas & Sinatra1:08.80
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