Main Sequence Class of Loaded United Nations
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Champion Main Sequence will make his return to the Jersey Shore to defend his title in the $500,000 United Nations Stakes (gr. IT) at Monmouth Park July 5, starting for the first time since taking a March trip to Dubai and facing a stout lineup of accomplished contenders.
The 6-year-old Aldebaran gelding was last seen in the March 28 Longines Dubai Sheema Classic (UAE-IT) at Meydan, where he went three wide around the long far turn and had to settle for seventh going 1 1/2 miles. Now he'll return to 1 3/8 miles on the Monmouth lawn, looking to land not only his second consecutive victory in the United Nations, but an automatic berth in the Breeders' Cup Turf (gr. IT)—a race he won in 2014—as part of the "Win & You're In" Breeders' Cup Challenge.
HAMMONDS: Main Sequence Scores in United Nations Stakes
Lining up to challenge Main Sequence in the United Nations—which will be broadcast live, along with the Salvator Mile (gr. III), on Fox Sports 1 starting at 4:30 p.m. ET—are talented grade I-winning rivals such as Slumber, Twilight Eclipse, 2013 United Nations victor Big Blue Kitten, and Imagining. But trainer Graham Motion believes his charge has returned ready to compete at the top of his game again.
"He is a very professional horse and is always straight forward," said Motion, who conditions Main Sequence for Flaxman Holdings. "He's had no problems since coming back from Dubai."
Before going to Dubai, Main Sequence made his season debut in the Feb. 21 Mac Diarmida (gr. IIT) at Gulfstream Park, winning with his usual late closing fashion. The victory brought his streak to five straight graded stakes wins in the U.S.
Main Sequence has two works under his girth since returning to the states. The second, his final preparation for the United Nations, was a five-furlong move in 1:02 2/5 June 27 over the Tapeta track at Fair Hill Training Center.
"Both workouts looked good," Motion said. "I could of ran him a few weeks ago, but wanted to put him in the best spot possible."
Main Sequence used his victory in last year's edition of the United Nations to start his streak of four consecutive grade I wins, capped off with that half-length score in the Breeders Cup Turf. He will break from post 6 in the 2015 edition with regular rider Rajiv Maragh in the irons while sharing 123-pound highweight assignment with Slumber and Twilight Eclipse.
Slumber, winner of the June 6 Knob Creek Manhattan Stakes (gr. IT) at Belmont Park last time out for Michael Dubb, Sheep Pond Partners, and Bethlehem Stables, combines with Big Blue Kitten to form a stiff one-two punch for trainer Chad Brown in this spot. The 7-year-old son of Cacique earned his first grade I victory when taking the 1 1/4-mile Manhattan by 2 3/4 lengths over Big Blue Kitten, who closed five wide in upper stretch and got up belatedly for the place.
Big Blue Kitten, a Kitten's Joy homebred for Kenneth and Sarah Ramsey, was making his second start of the season after winning the May 2 Fort Marcy Stakes (gr. IIIT) in his 2015 debut. The 7-year-old ridgling seems in good form and could be poised to return to the career-best summer that saw him put together back-to-back grade I victories in the United Nations and the Sword Dancer Invitational.
Irad Ortiz Jr. has the mount on Slumber from post 5, while regular rider Joe Bravo will be aboard Big Blue Kitten from the 3 hole as part of a 118-pound impost.
Twilight Eclipse seeks redemption for West Point Thoroughbreds after falling victim to softer ground than he prefers for a seventh-place finish in the Manhattan. He won the Man o' War Stakes (gr. IT) May 9 at Belmont to secure his much-deserved grade I victory. The 6-year-old Purim gelding finished just a neck back of Main Sequence in last year's edition of the United Nations, and missed the Mac Diarmida by three-quarters of a length to his familiar rival earlier this year. He takes on Main Sequence again from the inside with Paco Lopez in the irons for trainer Tom Albertrani.
Shipping in from California is Peter Eurton trainee Ashleyluvssugar, who moved from the allowance ranks to graded stakes company going 1 1/2 miles with ease his past two starts. The 4-year-old California-bred Game Plan gelding took the March 21 San Luis Rey Stakes (gr. IIT) by a head over Finnegans Wake, and won the May 24 Charles Whittingham Stakes (gr. IIT) by half a length. Hall of Fame jockey Gary Stevens comes in to ride from post 8.
Completing the lineup is 2014 Man o' War Stakes (gr. I) winner Imagining, who makes his first start for Hall of Fame trainer Shug McGaughey since running fifth May 9 in the 2015 edition of that race; multiple grade III winner Divine Oath, who comes off a fourth in the Charles Whittingham for trainer Todd Pletcher; and allowance winners Sycamore Lane and Shining Copper.
United Nations S. (gr. IT)
Monmouth Park , Sunday, July 05, 2015, Race 11
- 1 3/8m
- Turf
- $500,000
- 3 yo's & up
- 5:46 PM (local)
| PP | Horse | Jockey | Weight | Trainer |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Twilight Eclipse (KY) | Paco Lopez | 123 | Thomas Albertrani |
| 2 | Sycamore Lane (KY) | Jose Lezcano | 118 | William I. Mott |
| 3 | Big Blue Kitten (KY) | Joe Bravo | 118 | Chad C. Brown |
| 4 | Shining Copper (KY) | Abel Castellano, Jr. | 118 | Michael J. Maker |
| 5 | Slumber (GB) | Irad Ortiz, Jr. | 123 | Chad C. Brown |
| 6 | Main Sequence (KY) | Rajiv Maragh | 123 | H. Graham Motion |
| 7 | Imagining (KY) | John R. Velazquez | 120 | Claude R. McGaughey III |
| 8 | Ashleyluvssugar (CA) | Gary L. Stevens | 120 | Peter Eurton |
| 9 | Divine Oath (KY) | Elvis Trujillo | 118 | Todd A. Pletcher |