2022 U.N. Winner Adhamo Regroups in the Monmouth Stakes

Adhamo , winless in seven starts since taking the 2022 United Nations Stakes (G1T) at Monmouth Park, returns to the Jersey Shore June 15 with his connections' hopes of regaining his best form.

The 6-year-old Intello  horse is among a contentious group of nine entered in the 1 1/8-mile Monmouth Stakes (G3T)—one of two graded races on turf on Saturday's four-stakes card along with the Eatontown Stakes (G3T) at 1 1/16 miles for fillies and mares.

The $150,000 Monmouth Stakes appears the stronger race, having also drawn graded stakes winners Beatbox , Public Sector , Grand Sonata , and Tawny Port —plus some others with minor stakes wins or graded placings.

Though Adhamo has run below expectations since his victory in the 1 3/8-mile United Nations in July 2022, his slump is not entirely without cause. His six races immediately after the 2022 United Nations were in grade 1s, including in such races as the 2023 Breeders' Cup Turf (G1T) and 2024 Pegasus World Cup Turf Invitational Stakes (G1T). He finished 10th in both races as a longshot each time.

Most recently, he ran eighth in the March 23 Muniz Memorial Classic Stakes (G2T) at Fair Grounds Race Course & Slots, finishing 2 1/4 lengths behind fourth-place Beatbox.

Chad Brown trains Adhamo for owners Michael Dubb, Madaket Stables, and Louis Lazzinnaro. After his import from France, they have raced him in the United States since early 2022.

Flavien Prat rides. He has been aboard Adhamo seven times, including in the 2022 United Nations.

Eatontown a Graded Opportunity For Ocean Club

None of the 10 fillies and mares in the $150,000 Eatontown have scored at the graded level, though four—Sacred Wish , Thirty Thou Kelvin , Spirit And Glory , and Ocean Club —are stakes winners outside of graded company.

Glen Hill Farm's Ocean Club brings some of the best recent form into the Eatontown, having won two in a row, including the Monroe Stakes at Gulfstream Park May 18. The daughter of Curlin   also won the Martha Washington Stakes there in 2023 during her 3-year-old season.

She picked up a graded placing last year when second to eventual grade 1 winner Anisette  in the San Clemente Stakes (G2T) at Del Mar.

Jack Sisterson is her new trainer after Ocean Club previously raced for Tom Proctor and Bethany Baumgardner

Sacred Wish and Spirit And Glory exit sharp performances at Aqueduct Racetrack. The former won an allowance optional claimer by four lengths in her latest, while the latter was a close third in the Beaugay Stakes (G3T) following a blowout win in the Plenty of Grace Stakes.

Sacred Wish, second in the 2023 Coaching Club American Oaks (G1) on dirt, has been consistently good on turf in five starts since shifted to that surface last year by trainer George Weaver.