Dialing In Caller One

Caller One only ran three times in the first seven months of the year, winning the Dubai Golden Shaheen and the Los Angeles Handicap at Hollywood Park.

If he starts in this afternoon’s $100,000 Vernon O. Underwood, it would be the third race since Oct. 27 for the 4-year-old gelded son of Phone Trick.

Trained by Jim Chapman for a partnership, Caller One is the 7-5 favorite on Russ Hudak’s morning line, but he tired in a pace duel in the Frank J. DeFrancis Memorial at Laurel 15 days ago. Put away by the talented 3-year-old filly Xtra Heat, Caller One finished sixth of seven in a race won by an opportunistic Delaware Township.

Drawn on the rail, Caller One should be able to make the lead if he does run and he has been partial to Hollywood Park. He has won three of his four starts there and he won the Los Angeles Handicap when breaking from the inside post.

The remainder of the field for the Grade III at six furlongs includes defending champion Men’s Exclusive, who has lost four in a row for trainer Wesley Ward as he nears the end of his 8-year-old season; Forest Camp, who has won twice in eight starts since his dominating victory in the 1999 Del Mar Futurity; Morocco, the $2 million yearling purchase who has won two of his last four for trainer Richard Mandella; Lake William, Beaumes De Venise, Tavasco and Very Caerleon. Warum Nicht, who would have been the longest shot in the field, was scratched Saturday morning.

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Race of the day: The fourth is a strong allowance race in which almost all of the nine entrants have some sort of look. Lonesome Dude is the 3-1 favorite based upon his Steinlen Handicap victory earlier in the meet. The only horse that can be tossed with any degree of confidence is Trailthefox, and he is likely to be scratched.

Who’s hot: Jerry Hollendorfer. The trainer is in his usual spot atop the standings in Northern California and he swept the first four races on the card Friday at Golden Gate Fields.

Who’s not: Double Our Flag. The 7-year-old son of Skip Out Front is 0 for 25 as he tries to break his maiden in today’s ninth at Golden Gate Fields. He comes from a stable that has won one race this year and will be ridden by a jockey who has four victories in 2001.

Exotically speaking: Exacta box in the fifth using Aztec Silver, Hailtheliquidator and Bilbaino.

Winners: Previous Day/Meet Total: 5/43. Money: Previous Day/Meet Total: $21.20/$233.20. Total money bet: $328.