The 19th Running of the G1 United Nations
Saturday, July 22, 2023
MTH Race #12 $600.000
3+ 119/124 Lbs 13/8 (T)
#1 King Que Niagra (D J C Racing Stables/P. Lopez): six-year-old gelding will try to become the first horse to win this race for a second time, and he seems to be rounding back to his best form. This will be his fifth start in a G1 to start his 2023 campaign, and while he took a few races to get rolling, he appears to be nearing a return to some of his best form. Took a G1 two back before finishing 4th, beaten only a length, last time. Rail draw should play to his pace-pressing tactics as he chases history.
#2 Pxg (Mb Stables/J.R. Velazquez): seven-year-old took five of his seven starts last year; however, he has gotten off to a slow start to this year’s campaign. He has been third in a pair of G1’s this year, and he was second in a G3 last-out. For whatever reason, he didn’t lift a hoof in the starts two and four back. So, either he’s knocking on the door, or he’s in over his head. Hard to question this conditioner, but the rubber meets the road here.
#3 Ziccio (Night Rider Stables/L. Saez): four-year-old gelding started his ’23 campaign with a runner-up and a win against TX-Bred stakes foes before being thumped soundly at KEE in a G2. Trainer didn’t let that one bad effort bother him, and this guy rewarded him with a G1 victory last out at BEL. Maybe sitting a bit further back was the key; however, maybe that effort is more representative of who he is compared to the two-back debacle.
#4 Big E (Mb Stables/U. Rispoli 119): The only three-year-old in the field, this guy was purchased for $250.000 after his ’23 bow. His next three races were all good, albeit non-winning, efforts on the main track; however, he found ON-Bred stakes’ company more to his liking when he returned to the lawn. Trainer doesn’t keep many “intact”, so there’s something he sees here that he likes. He gets tested for class here, but the signs are there to expect a positive reward for conditioner’s faith.
#5 Jakarta (Nakamura Stables/D.E. Centeno): five-year-old is in a really, really good run of form right now with three consecutive graded wins, including a G1 last out. All of that winning, as well as all of his five wins, has been done between 8 and 8.5 furlongs, so there’s a distance question that will get answered. The class question, however, has been answered rather emphatically. He may not win, but to expect less than a top effort doesn’t seem wise given his current form.
#6 Deactivation (Mb Stables/Ru. Silvera): Colt hasn’t won in 51 weeks; however, he’s only been beaten more than a length in two of his last seven starts. Hasn’t faced the kind of competition that some of these guys have so he’ll have to show he’s got the class to compete with these. With the number of pace factors drawn inside of him, he may be able to sit a two-wide trip from midpack. A win here would raise the stock on this one’s stallion prospects.
#7 Scott The Cherokee (TwinTowersRacing/J. Lezcano): five-year-old gelding has tried turf 15 times with only a single victory to his credit, but he has nine other ITM finishes. All of those checks were cashed against lesser company, and, in his only graded turf try, he was a well-beaten 7th at KD last September. This will be his first try on the grass since, but this appears a major ask to say the least.
#8 Billy Joel (Fractious/F. Geroux): Former BC champion saw the hammer drop for $274.330 when he went through the auction ring a month ago. Trainer has been in talent-acquisition mode and that price seems more than fair for a guy that just took a G1 last out. His work times aren’t eye-catching, and he’s not as consistent as he once was; however, on his day, he is still a horse that commands respect. Would be no surprise to see him fire a big shot here.
#9 Hammerfest (Smokey Stover/P. Husbands): six-year-old gelding has won a graded race in three consecutive years as he bettered his G3’s from ’21 and ’22 with a G2 score down at FG this winter. Just missed doubling-up in last month’s G2 at BEL but he appears to be running some of his best races this season. He was a runner-up in the BC Turf as a sophomore, and a win here would all but guarantee his participation this year.
#10 Neds Influence (The Sidley Stud/L. Detorri): Colt is a two-time G3 winner this season and enters off of a romp in latest try at SA. In four races this season, he’s yet to be defeated by more than a length so you know he’s in the best form of his career. Late-running sort is reunited with the pilot from that last victory, and he should get a good pace setup if he can navigate a trip that doesn’t see him caught too wide.
#11 Mickey (South Shore Stables/Mario Gutierrez): Last year’s BC Turf champ has showed no effects of a four-year-old curse as he’s been first or second in five of his six starts this season. His one “poor” effort this season did come at this trip, but he caught a “good” course that day and may not have liked the footing. He’s accustomed to being drawn wide so this draw shouldn’t shake the faith of his backers, and he’s too consistent to gamble that he may have an “off day”.
Final Analysis: This is like a mini-BC race with the field the folks at MTH have assembled for the G1 United Nations. We’ll call it 11-6-5-1 and box the four runners; however, there are numerous, other strong contenders in here that will have a say in how this one goes. Good luck to all involved and let’s hope we get as good of a race on the viewer as it looks on paper!
Categories: STAKES ARTICLES
