Up-and-comers square off in Hollywood Turf Cup

DEL MAR, Calif. – It took only four months for United and Overdue to emerge from obscurity to prominence, and Sunday at Del Mar the rejuvenated geldings enter the Grade 2 Hollywood Turf Cup as the two leading contenders.

United was still eligible to the second allowance condition in July, but last month he gave Bricks and Mortar all he could handle in the Breeders’ Cup Turf. United finished second by a head, and starts as the 5-2 program favorite Sunday in the $200,000 Hollywood Turf Cup.

Overdue remains unexposed; he has never started in a graded race. But his development from maiden winner to Grade 2 contender has been rapid, and a notable second-level allowance win last out positions him for an upset victory in Hollywood Turf Cup.

Ten entered the 1 1/2-mile race, which will be run over a rain-soaked course. After United and Overdue, the field includes veteran gelding Itsinthepost, who has won eight graded stakes; Grade 2 winner Cleopatra’s Strike; and likely pacesetter Zestful. Others are Ward ’n Jerry, Brown Storm, High Promise, Chosen Vessel, and Oscar Dominguez.

Richard Mandella trains United, whose modest résumé included two wins from his first six starts. That was before he figured things out. His last four starts were the best of his career. “Just maturity,” Mandella said. “He’s learned and developed.”

United, who finished second and third in a pair of Grade 2’s sandwiched around a second-level allowance win, was 51-1 against Bricks and Mortar in the BC Turf. “At the three-sixteenths pole, I thought we had him,” Mandella said. “And then I thought [Bricks and Mortar] was going to run by us, and when our horse saw him, he dug in and tried to stay with him.”

United, ridden by Flavien Prat, missed by only a head. Sunday, he will be the first BC Turf starter to run back. Three of the last five Hollywood Turf Cups were won by horses exiting a Breeders’ Cup race. United is no cinch, however.

Overdue won just one of his first five, but he also figured things out. “He’s finally getting it, the light finally is coming on,” trainer Phil D’Amato said describing two sharp recent allowance wins.

D’Amato said jockey Mike Smith played a key role in Overdue’s improvement. Smith rode him twice, won twice, and works him between races.

“Mike has done a great job not rushing him and letting him do what he wants to do when he wants to do it.”

Overdue will race beyond 1 1/8 miles for the first time Sunday. Trainer and rider are okay with 12 furlongs. “He acts like a horse that just wants to run longer, and Mike feels the same way,” D’Amato said.

D’Amato also entered Cleopatra’s Strike, who defeated United while winning the Grade 2 John Henry Turf Championship in September. Itsinthepost and Zestful finished one-two last out in the Grade 2 Marathon Stakes on dirt at Santa Anita.