Saturday, July 5, 2014

Race Preview: United Nations Stakes

Monmouth's second most important race runs tomorrow. The United Nations is run over a mile and a half on the turf and is a WAYI for the BC Turf. Lets take a look at this year's field:

Race 12 - United Nations S. (Grade I)

Purse $500,000. For Three Year Olds And Upward. By subcription of $500 each, which should accompany the nomination. $5,000 to enter. The winner to receive $300,000; $100,000 to second; $50,000 to third; $30,000 to fourth; $15,000 to fifth; $10,000 sixth through last. Weight: Three Year Olds, 117 lbs; Older, 123 Lbs. Non-Winners of a Grade I Stake since November 7, 2013 allowed 3 lbs; Non-Winners of a Grade II Stake in 2014 allowed 5 Lbs. Supplementary nominations may be made at time of entry, by payment of a fee of $15,000 which includes all fees. The winning owner to receive a trophy. (Should this race be taken off the turf it will be run at One Mile and One Quarter on the main track). One And Three Eighth Miles. (Turf)
PP Horse                           A/S Med Jockey Wgt Trainer
1 Charming Kitten (KY) 4/C L J Bravo 118 T A Pletcher
2 Ghurair (KY)               4/C L G L Stevens 118 C C Brown
3 Twilight Eclipse (KY) 5/G L J Lezcano 120 T Albertrani
4 Manchurian High (FL) 6/G L F Boyce 118 L Kurtinecz
5 Main Sequence (KY) 5/G L1 R Maragh 118 H G Motion
6 Exclusive Strike (KY) 7/G L P Lopez 118 J Servis
7 Kaigun (ON)                 4/G L A Garcia 118 M E Casse
8 Winning Cause (KY) 4/C L C P DeCarlo 118 T A Pletcher
9 Lochte (KY)                 4/G L O Bocachica 123 M J Vitali
10 Side Glance (GB)         7/G L J P Spencer 118 A Balding

Charming Kitten (Kitten's Joy): Won the inaugural Belmont Gold Cup at 2 miles, so the distance won't be a problem, before that was 4th in the Dixie. The concern is the class as he is 0 for 4 in G1 races, but 2 of them where on main track (synth/dirt).

Ghurair (Elusive Quality): stakes winner in Europe, but ran poorly in lone stakes start in the US.

Twilight Eclipse (Purim): 4th in the Belmont Gold Cup after poor Dubai trip. Had won last two before those two efforts.

Manchurian High (The Daddy): Major step up in class from his recent Allowance/Optional Claiming/Claiming company. Last stakes start was an off the board finish in 2012.

Main Sequence (Aldebaran): First start in the US, as well as his first start of the year.

Exclusive Strike (Smart Strike): 2nd in lone start this year, he was 10th in last stakes start though. Even with that, was 3rd in a G1 last year at Belmont.

Kaigun (Northern Afleet): 2nd in the Manhattan after a 4th and 2nd in the previous two races behind Wise Dan. 9th in last year's Queen's Plate.

Winning Cause (Giant's Causeway): 3rd in his prep after finishing 2nd before that. Won the final prep race for the Derby last year, but stakes finishes have been inconsistant.

Lochte (Medaglia d' Oro): Started the season great winning a G1 in his second start of the year. However in his last he finished poorly on this surface finishing 13th.

Side Glance (Passing Glance (GB)): A true world traveler as he has run on 4 of the 5 continents that have racing. He's run well in both of his North America starts, but at 7 age might finally be catching up to him as he has finished no better than 4th in his last 4 starts.

Picks

Win- Charming Kitten
Place- Kaigun
Show- Side Glance

There is no video preview due to the holiday, many apologies.

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