United Nations Stakes at Monmouth Park

Las Vegas, NV - The Grade 1 United Nations Stakes comes our way this Saturday, July 7th from Monmouth Park on the Jersey Shore. Three year olds will be featured as they go 1 3/8 miles on Monmouth's turf track for their share of the $500,000 purse.

The lucrative United Nations Stakes has attracted a field of seven willing participants to go in race 11 on Monmouth's Saturday card. Post time is 5:48 PM. Here is a look at all seven entries and the recent performances ahead of this important Grade 1 event.

2012 United Nations Stakes Race Favorites

Turbo Compressor - has won three of five starts lately for trainer Todd Pletcher - all since switching to grass - including the minor Colonial Turf Cup Stakes last time out on June 16th, and Allowance Optional Claiming at Gulfstream in March and the Carl G. Rose Classic Handicap at Calder in November. On May 5th Turbo Compressor had his worst result in a while - an eighth in the Grade 1 Woodford Reserve Turf Classic but he won directly after and before that poor showing. He does have a win and a third on Monmouth turf and is the favorite for the United Nations.

Slim Shadey - has looked good as of late. Three straight second place finishes in his last three starts - the Grade 1 Charles Whittingham on this track three weeks ago, in the Grade 1 Woodford Reserve Turf Classic at Churchill Downs and the Grade 1 San Luis Stakes on March 25th followed two straight wins - an Allowance Optional Claiming on January 12th and the Grade 2 San Marcos Stakes on February 11th at Santa Anita. Slim Shadey is in the best form of his career and could certainly be a threat in this race.

United Nations Stakes 2012 | Remaining Field Entries

Air Support - was very impressive in 2011 - a win in the Grade 2 Virginia Derby last July highlighted a year that included a second at the Grade 3 Hill Prince Stakes in June, a third in the Grade 2 American Turf Stakes in May and a win in the Grade 3 Transylvania Stake last April. But in 2012 he has just one second place finish in three starts - last time out to Turbo Compressor in the Colonial Turf Cup Stakes at Colonial Downs a couple of weeks ago. He also has a was fifth in an Allowance at Keeneland on April 7th and a sixth in the Grade 2 Dixie Stakes at Pimlico on May 19th this year.

Eldaafer - finished sixth in this race last year and has been very inconsistent since. When holds wins in the 2010 Grade 3 Turfway Park Fall Championship Stakes and the Breeders' Cup Marathon. Eldaafer finished 2011 with a fifth in the Grade 3 Native Diver and started 2012 with a pair of fourths in the Turf Paradise Handicap and the Grade 3 Tokyo City Cup Stakes. Last time out was a decent second in the Grade 2 Brooklyn Handicap at Belmont on June 8th.

United Nations Stakes betting at Monmouth Park with OffTrackBetting.com

Brilliant Speed - has placed in and won multiple graded stakes races in the last year - the most impressive result being a win in the Grade 1 Blue Grass Stakes last April. He followed that up with a seventh in the Kentucky Derby and a third in the Belmont Stakes. Since then, Brilliant Speed has had some more impressive results - a win in the Grade 3 Saranac Stakes, a second in the Grade 2 Jamaica Stakes and a third in the Grade 1 Breeders' Cup Turf. In 2012 he finished fifth in the Grade 3 Appleton Stakes at Gulfstream on March 31st, third in the Grade 1 Woodford Reserve Turf Classic and most recently was fifth in the Grade 1 Manhattan Handicap on June 9th. Brilliant Speed is battle-tested and should be ready to make a statement.

Al Khali - won the Grade 2 Bowling Green Handicap at Belmont in 2010 and actually finished 2011 off is decent form with a third in the Grade 1 Sword Dancer Invitational and a third in the Grade 1 Northern Dancer Turf Stakes. 2012 hasn't been so kind - he did win an Allowance at Keeneland but also had a 10th in the Grade 1 Donn Handicap, an 11th in the Grade 1 Woodford and a sixth last time out in the Grade 1 Manhattan Handicap.

Freud's Honor - will be making his graded stakes debut after mixed results in minor stakes races. In 2012 Freud's Honor has a fourth place finish in an Allowance Optional Claiming in this track May 20th and a second most recently in a similar race on this track last week.

2012 United Nations Stakes Entries & Odds

Race 11 on Monmouth Park's Saturday card with a Post Time of 5:48 PM.