Top 3 2024 Finishers Are Back Again in United Nations

If the field for the $600,000 United Nations Stakes (G2T) has a familiar ring to it, then you have an excellent memory.

Not one, not two, but all three of the top finishers in last year's race will be back at Monmouth Park July 19 when the 1 3/8-mile turf stakes for 3-year-olds and up highlights an array of four graded stakes on the Haskell Stakes (G1) undercard.

Iron Horse Racing Stable, BlackRidge Stables, Saratoga Seven Racing Partners, and T-N-T Equine Holdings' Get Smokin  took the United Nations by a nose a year ago in a game front-running effort for trainer Mark Casse. Afterwards, the now 8-year-old Get Stormy gelding flopped in two turf stakes before closing out the year with a win in the Valedictory Stakes (G3) on the all-weather surface at Woodbine.

In his lone start this year, he tired late and finished third in the May 31 Eclipse Stakes (G2) on the same surface.

Whisper Hill Farm's homebred Grand Sonata  missed by a nose in the 2024 United Nations at 23-1 odds but should be a much lower price this time around.

The Medaglia d'Oro   6-year-old fizzled in the slop in the off-the-turf Belmont Gold Cup Stakes (G3) at Saratoga Race Course June 6, but should perk up for trainer Todd Pletcher back on turf.

Peachtree Stable's Tawny Port , third in the 2024 United Nations, also floundered in slop in the Belmont Gold Cup and will be trying to break an 11-race losing streak Saturday. The 6-year-old son of Pioneer of the Nile is trained by Miguel Clement.

Among those trying to spoil the sense of déjà vu will be Corruption , fourth in the June 8 Manhattan Stakes (G1T); Redistricting , a five-length winner of the June 14 Monmouth Stakes on turf; and Limited Liability , who has lost by a head and neck in graded stakes company in his two 2025 starts.

Grade 1 winners clash in Molly Pitcher

After posting a stunning 8-1 victory June 6 in the Ogden Phipps Stakes (G1), Dorth Vader  will be tested by eight rivals in the $500,000 Molly Pitcher Stakes (G3) for fillies and mares.

Owned by John Ropes, the homebred 5-year-old daughter of 2017 Haskell Stakes (G1) winner Girvin   was a 4 3/4-length winner on a sloppy track in the Phipps over a field that included the 6-5 favorite, multiple grade 1 winner Raging Sea .

Finishing fifth that day was trainer Chad Brown's Randomized , who won the 2024 Phipps and will face Dorth Vader again in Saturday's mile-and-a-sixteenth stakes.

The field also includes Eclipse Thoroughbred Partners and celebrity chef Bobby Flay's Candied , winner of the Allaire du Pont Distaff Stakes at Pimlico Race Course in her last start.

Just a Touch Headlines Monmouth Cup

Just a Touch  settled for third in the Metropolitan Handicap (G1), but should find the competition much softer in the $400,000 Monmouth Cup.

Owned by Qatar Racing, Resolute Racing, and Marc Detampel, the 4-year-old son of Justify   was grade 1-placed last year for trainer Brad Cox and won his two starts prior to the Met Mile by a combined 17 1/2 lengths.

The Pletcher-trained Classic Catch  will be making his first start in a graded stakes since November 2023. He has a 3-for-20 record but was a game second in a fast Saratoga allowance optional claimer June 5.

Brown seeks NINth Matchmaker victory

The $300,000 Matchmaker Stakes (G3T) has been very good to Brown, who has won the last five editions of the mile-and-an-eighth turf stakes for fillies and mares and eight overall.

With the trio of grade 2 winners Grayosh , Spaliday , and Segesta  in the field of seven, Brown is well stocked to continue his dominance of the race.

The top threat should be trainer George Weaver's grade 1 winner Sacred Wish , who was second in the Pegasus World Cup Filly and Mare Turf Invitational Stakes (G2T) earlier this year.