United Nations Stakes 2013 at Monmouth Park
Las Vegas, NV - Monmouth Park on the Jersey Shore will play host to the Grade 1 United Nations Stakes this Saturday, July 6. A nice purse of $500,000 will be on the line for horses three years old and upward willing to go 1 3/8 miles on Monmouth Park's turf track.
The United Nations has attracted a strong field of eight older horses to go in race 11 on Monmouth Park's Saturday card. Post time is 6:00 PM. Here is a look into the past performances of all eight combatants for this Grade 1 stakes.
2013 United Nations Stakes Race Favorites
Little Mike - won the Grade 1 Arlington Million Stakes in August and also the Breeders' Cup Turf in November to end his 2012 season with a fifth in the Grade 1 Joe Hirsch Turf Classic in September sandwiched in there. He has spent 2013 in Dubai with disappointing results - two races there have resulted in an eleventh last time out March 30 in the Dubai Duty Free and an eight in a Group 1 race - both result at Meydan Racecourse. He won three of five starts in the US before his trip overseas - all Grade 1 races on turf. He hopes to regain his form for trainer Dale Romans. Little Mike has 12 wins, two seconds and a third place finish in 23 career starts.
Teaks North - won the Sunshine Millions Turf Stakes at Gulfstream in wire-to-wire fashion January 19 and followed that with another good result - a second in the Grade 2 Mac Diarmida February 16. This after a tenth in the El Prado Stakes to end his 2012 campaign. He is coming off a win last time out in the minor Good Reward Stakes at Belmont Park May 15 after a disappointing sixth in the Grade 2 Pan American Stakes at Gulfstream in March. He was terrific in the summer of 2011 with 2 graded stakes wins and has won two of four starts in 2013. He won this race in 2011, has been injury prone in the past but when running right is a serious threat. He has won seven on 19 career starts on turf and figures to challenge for top spot this Saturday.
United Nations Stakes 2013 | Remaining Field Entries
Skyring - D. Wayne Lukas trained colt is coming off a terrific win in the Grade 2 Dixie Stakes May 18 after a fourth in the Grade 1 Maker's 46 Mile at Keeneland April 12 behind Wise Dan. He had a decent third in the Grade 3 River City Handicap at Churchill Downs in November as well. He raced three minor stakes races the past winter with mixed results - a fourth in the Buddy Diliberto Memorial Handicap at Fair Grounds in December, a second in the Fifth Season Stakes at Oaklawn in January and a fifth in the Essex Handicap at Oaklawn February 2. He has just four wins in 20 career starts but looks good coming off his impressive score last time out. Hall of Fame jockey Gary Stevens once again gets the mount.
Big Blue Kitten - finished a respectable third in the Gulfstream Park Turf Handicap last February behind Hollinger and Get Stormy and has just six starts since - a tenth overseas in June, a nice Allowance Optional Claiming score at Gulfstream December 8, a decent third in his 2013 debut in the Grade 2 Ft. Lauderdale Stakes at Gulfstream January 12 and two straight Allowance Optional Claiming scores - the last coming at Churchill Downs May 2. He is coming off a nice second last time out in the Grade 2 Monmouth Stakes June 9 and has eight wins, two seconds and four third place finishes in 15 career starts including his most impressive score - the Grade 2 Hall of Fame Stakes at Saratoga in August 2011. He has placed in all four 2013 races and has to be on the radar for the United Nations.
United Nations Stakes betting at Monmouth Park with OffTrackBetting.com
Willcox Inn - finished a good second last time out behind Skyring in the Dixie Stakes to follow a nice second in the Grade 2 Mervin H. Muniz March 30 at Fair Grounds. He had an OK third in the Grade 3 John B. Connally Turf Cup Stakes in January before a fourth in the Grade 3 Fair Grounds Handicap in February as well. He ended his 2012 campaign with a disappointing ninth in the Breeders' Cup Mile. Willcox Inn has five wins, four seconds and three third place finishes in 18 career starts for trainer Michael Stidham and appears in decent form ahead of the United Nations.
Russian Greek - has just one win in the last 17 months and it came last time out in an Allowance Optional Claiming at Delaware Park June 26. Before that was a third in a similar race at Arlington Park June 8. He failed to place in seven races prior including an eleventh in the Blue Grass Stakes in April 2012 and the Sprial Stakes in March 2013. Translation - there isn't a whole lot expected of Russian Greek Saturday.
Harrods Creek - has just one start this year for legendary trainer Bill Mott - an eighth in the Grade 3 Louisville Handicap at Churchill Downs May 25 after nine months away from racing. His last start of 2012 came in August a win in the minor John's Call Stakes at Saratoga to follow a sixth in the Grade 3 Stars and Stripes Stakes in July and a fourth in the 2012 version of the Louisville Handicap. He has 22 career starts with just four wins and is not expected to be a factor Saturday.
Hangover Kid - races in graded stakes company for the first time Saturday after 16 career starts produced five wins, four seconds and two third place finishes. He is coming off an Allowance Optional Claiming score at Belmont Park May 30 after a fourth and a second respectively in similar races at Aqueduct. His only stakes action came in September - a sixth in the minor Ashley T. Cole Stakes at Belmont.
