Stakes Will Get Higher

There is no stakes race today at Hollywood Park but beginning with the $100,000 Vernon O. Underwood on Thanksgiving, the Inglewood track will offer seven graded stakes in four days, highlighted by a pair of Grade I races Sunday -- the $600,000 Hollywood Derby and $500,000 Matriarch.

The richest race on today’s program is the seventh, a $46,000 optional claimer at 1 1/4 miles on the turf.

Meteor Storm, who hasn’t raced since May 16 for trainer Wally Dollase, is the likely favorite under jockey Patrick Valenzuela, but Superiority is the hottest horse in the field of seven.

A 7-year-old gelded son of Arazi, Superiority won three in a row during the Oak Tree meet at Santa Anita for owner Alan May and trainer Mike Puhich. After beating $10,000 claimers at 14-1 on the dirt in his second U.S. start, he won a starter allowance on the turf, then beat $50,000 claimers on the grass Nov. 6.

Superiority was claimed out of the win by trainer Nick Canani for owner Michael Gill and will be trying for his ninth win in 22 starts on turf.

Race of the day: Grand Victor, who has won both of his starts for owners Marchfore and West Point Stables and trainer Pat Byrne, will try to remain unbeaten in today’s eighth at Churchill Downs. Rafael Bejarano will ride in the $48,800 allowance at 6 1/2 furlongs.

One for the road: Fancanstik looked good crushing maidens by 11 1/4 lengths in her first start at Aqueduct on Nov. 1 and can win right back in today’s fifth. The 2-year-old looks like a single in the second leg of a pick six with a carry-over of $179,241.

Exotically speaking: A pick four using Hidalgo, Quiet Cash and Lipan in the fifth, Saint Lorenzo, Johnny Ola, Post Pattern and Wild Card Deck in the sixth, Meteor Storm in the seventh, and Talega de Oro and Currituck Sound in the eighth.

Winners: Previous day/meet total: 5/31. Money: Previous day/meet total: $25.40/$153.80. Total money bet: $168.