United Surges to San Marcos Victory

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.

"I had a good feeling," Hall of Fame trainer Richard Mandella said about United's chances during a furious charge to the wire in the 1 1/4-mile turf stakes Feb. 1 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, the 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. 

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.

Bred in Kentucky by Rosemont Farm, 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.

Video: San Marcos S. (G2T)