The United Nations Stakes – GII
$500.00 For Three Year Olds And Upward
1 3/8 Miles – Turf
Monmouth Park – July 18, 2026

New Jersey is (was?) a great place. I grew up there. The Jersey Shore and Monmouth Park are frozen in time in my mind as jewels of the Garden State and maybe it is better that way as a memory. The World Cup final will be played in NJ (not NY – fake news) on Sunday but the real draw this weekend is the twenty second running of the marathon turf race known as the United Nations Stakes. The race is a GII and has been run for a purse as large as $750.00 and as low as $300.00. It will be run for $500.00 this year which was enough of a carrot to lure seven horses to the starting gate. As of this writing there is a 92% chance of showers so a damp track does not look to be out of the question.

1. Shake It Up And Go (John Henry/S.X. Bridgmohan) He has one previous race on the grass which was a fourth place finish in the G3 Manila last summer. He won the mile and a half The Marathon last time out so he can go the distance but he has to show he has the talent on the grass to challenge the group he will face. If the track comes up wet add that to his unknown column as he has never competed on anything but a fast or firm track. 

2. Hackett (Nakamura/R. Santana Jr.) It is hard to imagine Buddy Hackett running a city block let alone a mile and three eighths but this is a horse and I am not even sure if Buddy is his namesake. Throw out his last race which was a sudden reversal of good form. He is better than that. He posted a triple digit SRF speed figure in the race before that one when he won the G3 The Pan American at twelve furlongs. He can go the distance and although his last race was on a wet track he has won on an off surface before. Look for a rebound. 

3. State Cavier (Diablo Diablo/R. Bejarano) The seven year old has earned over $2,000.00 in his career but he has not yet found the winner’s circle in 2026. He may not have any wins to show for his five starts this season but he has finished second twice and third twice in big races against top competition so he is not fading away quietly. He missed winning the G1 Forester Turf Classic by a head as an example of the kind of good form he has shown this year. He has won five of ten races on wet tracks. Expect him to be in the fight when they cross the line. 

4. Theegala (Mb Stables/J.R. Velasquez) The first entry from this barn beat last year’s BC Turf winner Chagrin Falls by a half length last time out in the G1 The Manhattan at Saratoga. He also finished ahead of Giacomo, State Cavier and American Nightmare who he will face off against here. It was his first race for Mb Stables after being claimed for $25.00 so he is undefeated under the new barn’s colors. His history shows that rain won’t bother him. It will be interesting to see how he follows up his G1 103 SRF wire to wire Manhattan win. 

5. Giacomo (First Flight Stable/T. Gaffalione) Four year old homebred is seeking his first stakes win. He followed up his third place finish in the G3 The Louisville with a fourth in the G1 Manhattan where he finished three lengths behind winner Theegala. He has picked up a check in his last two races which were both graded stakes but he needs to find another gear to hit the wire first. 

6. American Nightmare (D J C Racing Stables/D.E. Centeno) He has won over $900.00 in his career and was showing really good form this year with close finishes in graded stakes. He had two close thirds with two straight triple digit SRF speed figures in back to back G1 races going into his last race. In that last race he finished a disappointing eighth seven lengths behind Theegala in the G1 The Manhattan. He is much better than that effort but it is worth noting that the race was on a good turf course and he does not have a good wet track record. Back him if it’s dry be wary if you see umbrellas up. 

7. Scorched (Mb Stables/J. Lezcano) The second entry from Mb Stables won the Chorleywood Stakes at Churchill Downs in his last outing at the same distance as today’s race. He steps up into graded company and is showing very fast morning works. He is another who has yet to show a liking for a wet track so keep that in mind before making him your pick. Chances improve if conditions are dry.

Theegala is the “now” horse off of his impressive Manhattan win but State Cavier is too good of a horse to ignore and I look for him to rebound and notch his first win of the season. Mb Stables obviously knows what makes Theegala tick so it would not surprise to see another good effort or a win but place him second. Put American Nightmare in third if it’s dry. If it is wet fill out third and fourth with Hackett and Giacomo.

Categories: Grade II, STAKES ARTICLES