Bushwacker gets win after inquiry

Bushwacker, a 6-1 shot, survived a steward’s inquiry to win the $105,000 Vernon O. Underwood Stakes on Sunday at Hollywood Park. Crowd favorite Greg’s Gold, sent off at even money, finished third.

Bushwacker, fourth choice in a field of five, sped to the lead and covered the six furlongs on the synthetic Cushion Track in 1:08.47 to finish three-quarters of a length in front of second choice In Summation.

Greg’s Gold, named by owner Bill Boswell after his late grandson, Greg Boswell, who died at 16 only a few months after the 6-year-old gelding was born, was just another neck back.

In Summation’s jockey, Corey Nakatani, filed a foul claim against Joe Talamo, who rode the winner. But the stewards allowed the order of finish to stand.

“Look at that,” Nakatani said while watching a replay in the jockeys’ room after the race. “His whip hits my horse right in the face.”

Nakatani’s main complaint was that Bushwacker floated out, impeding In Summation.

“He was herding my horse,” Nakatani said. “Every time I got close to him, he’d just float out and my horse would have to check himself. You’re not allowed to herd. Five or six strides to the wire I couldn’t even ride him because he kept floating my horse out.”

Talamo, who also rode Ohtobeexcessive to a win in the ensuing 10th race, said of Bushwacker: “At the 16th pole, he came out a little but didn’t make any contact. He tends to do that every race, I don’t know why. I guess it’s just him.”

Nakatani, 38, said, “I’m old school. I think when a horse wants to come out you have to control him.”

Victor Espinoza, the rider on Greg’s Gold, had no complaints about his trip in the six-furlong race for 3-year-olds and up.

“He ran great, but 6 1/2 furlongs would have been better for him,” Espinoza said. “I had too much ground to catch up with the two up front.”

Bushwacker, a 5-year-old son of Outflanker, won for the second consecutive time and the fifth time in 23 starts while boosting his earnings to $285,840 with the winner’s share of $65,800.

“I thought he was clearly the best horse in the race,” said trainer Bill Currin, who owns Bushwacker in partnership with Al Eisman.

Sunday’s program drew an on-track crowd of 5,640. Garrett Gomez rode three winners to move ahead of Tyler Baze, 23 wins to 21, atop the jockeys’ standings.

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larry.stewart@latimes.com