Betting the United Nations Stakes on a $20 Budget
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Ashleyluvssugar and Gary Stevens bring a two-race win streak into Sunday's United Nations Stakes. (Photo by Benoit Photo)
Monmouth Park plays host to the Sunday’s United Nations Stakes, which will be broadcast live on FOX Sports 1 starting at 5 p.m. ET. The Grade I affair contested at 1 3/8 miles on the grass has routinely attracted some of the nation’s finest turf stars, and this year’s field is no different.
Main Sequence, our reigning Eclipse champion turf horse, is again the main attraction, as he seeks to repeat on his 2014 victory in this race. The gelding gets back on the track after a lackluster seventh in the Dubai Sheema Classic. Granted that race was held back in March, but I’m of the nature that that is a long way for a horse to travel and, even with the three month layoff, it’s difficult to return back to form from a trip like that. With a vulnerable favorite like him, it’s time to seek the horse that could be primed for an upset.
I think this race sets up well for Ashleyluvssugar. The West Coast-based gelding has improved since making the switch from all-weather to turf. After cruising to three straight victories – two Grade 2 – on the grass, he gets the chance to step up to Grade I company. It will be interesting to see how he stacks up. His ability to run just off the pace and close from a little further back will serve him well. Hall of Famer Gary Stevens will be in the irons, which is an added plus. With a morning line of 5-1, I think he’s certainly worth a play.
Outside of Ashleyluvssugar, Twilight Eclipse and Imagining are worth a look for exotics. Twilight Eclipse comes in off a romp in the Man o’ War Stakes, and will be a force to be reckoned with on Sunday. He loses his regular rider Javier Castellano, which will not play in his favor. At the juicy price of 6-1, Imagining could sneak on the board. He also ran last in the Man o’ War but finished fifth. He should rebound here – his conditioner Shug McGaughey would not run him if that wasn’t the case.
Ashleyluvssugar is my pick, but Main Sequence’s deep closing abilities make him a horse to still be wary of, while Imagining is a nice way to get a little score.
Budget betting strategy:
$2 Exacta Box: 6, 7, 8 ($12 total)
$4 Win/Place: 8 ($8)
$500,000 United Nations Stakes
Sunday, Monmouth Park, Race 11, 5:46 p.m. ET
1 3/8 miles, turf, 3-year-olds and older
TV: FOX Sports 1, 5-6 p.m. ET
PP
Horse
A/S
Jockey
Trainer
Owner
M/L
1
Twilight Eclipse
6/G
Paco Lopez
Tom Albertrani
West Point Thoroughbreds
9/2
2
Sycamore Lane
4/C
Jose Lezcano
Bill Mott
Gainesway Stable and William Graves
15/1
3
Big Blue Kitten
7/R
Joe Bravo
Chad Brown
Ken and Sarah Ramsey
7/2
4
Shining Copper
5/G
Abel Castellano Jr.
Mike Maker
Ken and Sarah Ramsey
30/1
5
Slumber (GB)
7/H
Irad Ortiz Jr.
Chad Brown
Dubb, Sheep Pond and Bethlehem Stables
5/1
6
Main Sequence
6/G
Rajiv Maragh
Graham Motion
Flaxman Holdings
5/2
7
Imagining
7/H
John Velazquez
Shug McGaughey
Phipps Stable
6/1
8
Ashleyluvssugar
4/G
Gary Stevens
Peter Eurton
S. Alesia, Bran Jam and Ciaglia Racing
5/1
9
Divine Oath
4/C
Elvis Trujillo
Todd Pletcher
Let’s Go Stable
15/1