United Surges to Victory in San Marcos Stakes

Nothing seems to come easy for LNJ Foxwoods' United, and the $200,500 San Marcos Stakes (G2T) was no different for the 5-year-old gelding.

Though he was a heavy 4-5 favorite, United and jockey Flavien Prat needed to rally gamely between horses in the final furlong to win by a half-length. Only 1 1/2 lengths separated the winner from the last-place finisher in a tight finish.

"I had a good feeling," trainer Richard Mandella said about United's chances during a furious charge to the wire in the 1 1/4-mile turf stakes at Santa Anita Park. "He gets into that big stride, and he's pretty steady."

United came into the San Marcos off a pair of runner-up finishes, losing by a neck in the Hollywood Turf Cup Stakes (G2T) and, before that, by a head to eventual Horse of the Year Bricks and Mortar in the Longines Breeders' Cup Turf (G1T) at Santa Anita.

Through his fourth win in 12 starts, United, a son of Giant's Causeway, soared past the $1 million mark in earnings and extended his total to $1,013,549.

At the top of the stretch, it was anyone's race with the field of six strung out across the track, but United showed the most grit, edging to a short lead and holding off Slam Dunk Racing and Michael Nentwig's Cleopatra's Strike, a 7-year-old Smart Strike gelding who was gaining ground on the far outside.

United finished in 1:59.04 on firm turf.

United is the second graded stakes winner out of the Pulling Punches mare Indy Punch. All four of her foals to race are stakes winners or stakes-placed, including grade 3 winner Harlan Punch. United was bred in Kentucky by Rosemont Farm.

Nancy Messineo and Bruce Sands' Oscar Dominguez, a 7-year-old Zoffany gelding, rallied from last at the eighth pole to finish third, a neck behind Cleopatra's Strike.