Horses You Should Know in the United Nations

Big Blue Kitten is one who could upset reigning turf champion Main Sequence in Sunday's United Nations Stakes at Monmouth Park. (Photos by Eclipse Sportswire unless otherwise noted)
This week on Fox Sports 1, television coverage returns to Monmouth Park for the United Nations Stakes on July 5. Last year eventual dual Eclipse Award winner Main Sequence started his season in this race and earned his spot in the Breeders’ Cup Turf by taking the Win and You’re In berth offered here.
This year Main Sequence is back to defend his win in the race, running in his first race since the Dubai Sheema Classic on March 28. Last year’s Breeders’ Cup Turf winner will be a worthy favorite but the probable field also includes multiple others, including some of those familiar with Main Sequence, to take home the winner’s share of the $500,000 purse. Let’s take a look at a few of the contenders who may make Sunday’s race interesting.
A horse who has really flipped it into gear this year is Ashleyluvssugar.  He has won three straight races since switching exclusively to turf this year, including two Grade 2 races at Santa Anita. Ashleyluvssugar has never contested a Grade 1 race but did beat Finnegans Wake by 2 ¼ lengths in that first Grade 2 and Finnegans Wake went on to win the Grade 1 Woodford Reserve Turf Classic in his next start. Ashleyluvssugar has never left California so we don’t know how he’ll perform after shipping across the country but if he handles the ship, he’s an improving sort that will be a good one to put some money on.
ASHLEYLUVSSUGAR

Photo by Benoit Photo
The 2013 winner of the United Nations, Big Blue Kitten is looking to win his third Grade 1 race here. Big Blue Kitten hasn’t showed the form he had in 2013 so far this year but hasn’t disgraced himself, winning a Grade 3 by 2 ¼ lengths in May and finishing second in the Grade 1 Manhattan on Belmont Stakes day. Even though he is pace-dependent because of his running style, Big Blue Kitten usually makes it into at least second place in these races, with top-two finishes in 12 of his last 14 starts. Look for Big Blue Kitten to trail the field early but come flying at the leaders in the stretch.
Twilight Eclipse could be considered Main Sequence’s constant bridesmaid. The pair has matched up five times and every time Main Sequence has finished in front of him with Twilight Eclipse coming in second in three meetings and third twice. However, with Main Sequence on the sidelines for the Man o’ War Stakes in May, Twilight showed that he can stand up on his own credentials, winning a well-deserved first Grade 1. Twilight Eclipse is coming off of his worst finish since March of 2014 with a seventh in the Manhattan Stakes but with his record since finishing second in this race last year, I’m willing to put a line through that start for him.
TWILIGHT ECLIPSE

The United Nations is the first Breeders’ Cup Turf Win and You’re In race of the year in North America. It is part of The Jockey Club Tour on FOX Sports 1 and will be televised from 4:30 to 6 p.m. ET on Sunday, July 5.