United Set to Take Flight in Hollywood Turf Cup

Hall of Fame trainer Richard Mandella was optimistic that racing an extended distance would benefit United in the Nov. 2 Longines Breeders' Cup Turf (G1T) at Santa Anita Park, an assessment that proved spot on. Stretching out from 1 1/4 miles to 1 1/2 miles, the 4-year-old Giant's Causeway gelding turned in the performance of his career to finish second at 51-1 odds, beaten a head by Bricks and Mortar, the leading candidate for Horse of the Year.

A month later, United is now in a different role—that of the probable favorite—among a field of 10 in the $200,000 Hollywood Turf Cup (G2T) Dec. 1 at Del Mar. Again running 1 1/2 miles—this time against eight-time graded stakes winner Itsinthepost—he looks poised to pick up his first stakes victory if he can replicate his Breeders' Cup effort.

United's consistency and record suggest he can. On the board in five of his past six starts, he returns to race on a Del Mar turf course where he won a second-level allowance over the summer for owner LNJ Foxwoods.

Flavien Prat, aboard in the Breeders' Cup, will return in the irons.

"He made a huge run," Prat said. "I mean, I thought I was going to win turning for home. A great horse beat us, but it was an amazing race from my horse."

Video: Longines Breeders' Cup Turf (G1T)

Itsinthepost, a 7-year-old gelding, is the race's leading money earner, having won 11 of 41 starts and more than $1.3 million. What he has not done is win at Del Mar, going 0-3-1 in 12 grass starts. This comes in stark contrast to his grass record elsewhere: 10-3-5 from 26 races.

Sixth in the Aug. 17 Del Mar Handicap Presented by The Japan Racing Association (G2T), the son of American Post returned on dirt in the Nov. 1 Marathon Stakes Presented by Thoroughbred Aftercare Alliance (G2) at Santa Anita, wearing down fellow Hollywood Turf Cup entrant Zestful in a slugfest over 1 3/4 miles. 

Video: Marathon S. Presented by Thoroughbred Aftercare Alliance (G2)

Drayden Van Dyke will be back aboard for trainer Jeff Mullins and owner Red Baron's Barn.

Besides Itsinthepost, the only other North American graded winner is Cleopatra's Strike. The 6-year-old son of Smart Strike has never raced farther than 1 1/4 miles.

Cleopatra's Strike won the 1 1/4-mile John Henry Turf Championship Stakes (G2T) Sept. 28 at Santa Anita, a race in which United was third. After that race, owners Slam Dunk Racing and Michael Nentwig and trainer Phil D'Amato chose to sit out the Breeders' Cup.

Ward 'n Jerry, Brown Storm, High Promise, Chosen Vessel, Oscar Dominguez, and Overdue complete the field.

Post time for the Hollywood Turf Cup is 2:03 p.m. PT as part of a 10-race card topped by the $300,000 Matriarch Stakes (G1T). Ninety-six horses, plus one also-eligible, are entered to race at Del Mar on Sunday.

Entries: Hollywood Turf Cup S. (G2T)

Del Mar, Sunday, December 01, 2019, Race 5

• Grade IIT
• 1 1/2m
• Turf
• $200,000
• 3 yo's & up
• 2:03 PM (local)

PP	Horse	Jockey	Wgt	Trainer	M/L
1	1Ward 'n Jerry (CA)	Florent Geroux	122	Mike Puype	15/1
2	2Brown Storm (CHI)	Abel Cedillo	124	Michael W. McCarthy	15/1
3	3Zestful (KY)	Joseph Talamo	122	Mark Glatt	8/1
4	4High Promise (KY)	Jose Valdivia, Jr.	122	Patrick Gallagher	15/1
5	5Chosen Vessel (KY)	Tyler Baze	122	Craig Dollase	20/1
6	6Cleopatra's Strike (ON)	Manuel Franco	124	Philip D'Amato	7/2
7	7Oscar Dominguez (IRE)	John R. Velazquez	122	Richard Baltas	6/1
8	8Itsinthepost (FR)	Drayden Van Dyke	124	Jeff Mullins	5/1
9	9Overdue (KY)	Mike E. Smith	122	Philip D'Amato	5/1
10	10United (KY)	Flavien Prat	122	Richard E. Mandella	5/2