2017 United Nations Stakes Preview, Entries & Odds

OffTrackBetting.com - Monmouth Park in Oceanport, New Jersey will be the scene of the G1 United Nations Stakes on Saturday, July 1. A purse of $300,000 will be up for grabs for horses three years old and upward willing to race 1 3/16 miles on Monmouth Park's turf track.

A field of nine have been confirmed for the United Nations Stakes- race 11 on Monmouth Park's Saturday card. Post time is 5:57 PM. Let's take a peek into the past performances of all nine combatants for this intriguing G1 stakes.

2017 United Nations Stakes Entries at Monmouth Park

Beach Patrol 5-2

Chad Brown trained colt has placed 10 of 13 career starts - three wins, five seconds and two third place finishes. He enters off a slightly disappointing fourth in the G1 Manhattan Stakes at Belmont Park June 10 which followed a decent second behind Divisidero in the G1 Woodford Reserve Turf Classic at Churchill Downs May 6, a fourth in the G1 Gulfstream Park Turf Handicap February 11 and another pair of respectable runner-up finishes - the G1 Hollywood Derby at Del Mar December 3 and in the G3 Hill Prince Stakes at Belmont Park October 8.

Before that was a career-best effort - a win in the G1 Secretariat Stakes at Arlington August 13, an OK third in the G1 Belmont Derby Invitational, a sixth in the G3 Penn Mile last June 4 and a respectable second in the G2 American Turf Stakes at Churchill Downs May 7. Beach Patrol has been competitive every time except for one bad outing and will be out to snap a five-race losing streak Saturday. Florent Geroux will be in the saddle of the morning line favorite from the rail.

Itsinthepost 7-2

French bred Jeff Mullins trained gelding has 26 career starts with five wins, six seconds and five third place finishes. He enters off a disappointing fifth as favorite in the G2 Charles Whittingham Stakes at Santa Anita May 28 which followed a two-race win streak - by 1 1/2 lengths in the G2 Dixiana Elkhorn Stakes at Keeneland April 22 and in the G2 San Luis Rey Stakes at Santa Anita March 25. Before that were three straight very close runner-up finishes - the G2 San Marcos Stakes at Santa Anita February 4, the G3 San Gabriel Stakes on that track January 7 and an Allowance Optional Claiming at Del Mar November 19.

He also posted a win and another second respectively in another pair of Allowance Optional Claiming races last year and placed in four of his previous five as well - all Allowance Optional Claiming races. Itsinthepost has three wins and four runner-ups in his last eight starts overall and will be after a bounce back Saturday. Tyler Baze rides the second betting choice from gate 2.

Bigger Picture 4-1

Made his stakes debut last July for trainer Michael Maker and finished eighth last year's edition of this race. Before that were six wins, three seconds and a third-place finish including two straight Allowance Optional Claiming scores in 2016. He has been up and down lately - a third last time out in the G2 Elkhorn Stakes at Keeneland April 22 followed a fourth in the G2 Mac Diarmida Stakes at Gulfstream March 4, a good win in the G3 John B. Connally Turf Cup at Sam Houston January 29, an eighth in the minor Claiming Crown Jewel Stakes here December 3, a terrific win in the G2 Red Smith Handicap at Aqueduct November 12 and a decent nose-second in the G3 Sycamore Stakes at this distance at Keeneland October 20.

Bigger Picture has placed in eight of his last 11 starts overall with five wins over that span but hasn't been afraid to deliver a dud along the way. He tries for a third graded stakes score in six starts Saturday with Joe Bravo guiding the third choice from post 3.

Oscar Nominated 5-1

Michael Maker trained Ringling has four wins, six seconds and two third place finishes in 18 career starts. He finished seventeenth as a longshot in last year's Kentucky Derby and went on to a fifth in the G3 Penn Mile in June, a second in the G3 American Derby in July and a fifth in the G1 Secretariat Stakes in August. He's been OK since - consecutive thirds ahead of this weekend in the G1 Woodford Reserve Turf Classic at Churchill Downs May 6 and the G2 Muniz Memorial Handicap followed three straight seconds including the G3 Fair Grounds Handicap February 25, behind Bigger Picture in the G3 John B. Connally Turf Cup January 29 and the minor Tropical Park Derby.

Oscar Nominated also had wins in the minor Dueling Grounds Derby September 11, the G3 Spiral Stakes at Turfway Park and also won the minor Black Gold Overnight Stakes at Fair Grounds February 27, 2016. Oscar Nominated has been knocking on the door and will be after his first graded stakes win in 14 months (second overall). Kendrick Carmouche will try to accomplish that goal from gate 8.

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Can'thelpbelieving 8-1

Defending fifth place finisher in this race - Irish bred Graham Motion trained gelding has four wins, five seconds and three third place finishes in 20 career starts. Last time out was a fourth in the G3 Red Bank Stakes on this track May 27 which followed a very disappointing eleventh in the G1 Woodford Reserve Turf Classic at Churchill Downs May 6, nine months away and a career-best win in the G3 Cliffhanger Stakes on this track July 30.

Can'thelpbelieving also finished a respectable third in the 2016 G1 Man `o War Stakes at Belmont Park. He has been up and down so far in his career and has failed to place in four of his last five starts (his only on-the-board finish was a win three starts back). He tries to gain a little consistency Saturday with Paco Lopez from post 7.

Liam the Charmer 8-1

Liam the Charmer has three wins, a second and a third-place finish in 10 career starts for trainer Michael McCarthy. Last time out was a fourth in the G2 Charles Whittingham Stakes at Santa Anita May 28 which followed one of his wins - an Allowance Optional Claiming on that track April 28. Before that was a fourth in the G2 San Luis Rey Stakes at Santa Anita March 25 and an Allowance Optional Claiming score there February 9.

He also had a fourth in a similar race at Del Mar November 19 and a fifth in his only other graded stakes action to date - the G3 La Jolla Handicap at Del Mar in August. Liam the Charmer has alternated wins and fourth place finishes in his last five starts overall but has yet to record a stakes score. Jockey Victor Espinoza gets the call hoping to change all of that from gate 6.

Closing Bell 10-1

Bill Mott trainee has just three wins, two seconds and three third place finishes in 18 career starts. He enters off an Allowance Optional Claiming score at Belmont Park May 28 (his first win in 21 months). It followed a seventh and two thirds in a trio of Allowance Optional Claiming races earlier this year. He had five graded stakes starts in 2015/2016 with a second in the 2015 G1 Secretariat Stakes and a third in the 2016 G2 Muniz Memorial Handicap last March being the best results.

Closing Bell will try for his first win in top company Saturday and enters in so-so form. Jose Lezcano will be in the irons from gate 4.

Messi 12-1

German bred Graham Motion trained gelding has six wins, five seconds and three third place finishes in 23 career starts. He won the G3 Knickerbocker Stakes at Belmont Park in October, 2015 and has been good at times and bad at others since. Last time out was an OK third in the G3 Fort Marcy Stakes at Belmont Park May 6 which followed a sixth in the G3 Red Smith Handicap at Aqueduct November 12 and a tenth in the G2 John Henry Turf Championship at Santa Anita October 2.

Before that was a good win in the G2 Sky Classic at Woodbine August 21 and consecutive third place finishes - the G3 Arlington Handicap July 9 and the G3 Fort Marcy Stakes at Belmont Park last May. Messi has placed in just one of his last three starts and hopes for his first win since August when he leaves from post 5 with Orlando Bocachica guiding him.

Lucky Lindy 15-1

Michael Matz trainee has placed in seven of eight career starts - four wins, two seconds and a third-place finish - he has hit the board in all of his starts since his debut. He enters on a nice three race win streak - an Allowance Optional Claiming last time out May 27 on this track followed 19 months away and wins in the 2015 G3 Hawthorne Derby and the 2015 G3 Ontario Derby at Woodbine.

Before that, Lucky Lindy was a third in the minor Breeders' Stakes in August and a second in the minor Toronto Cup last July - both at Woodbine. Lucky Lindy has shown serious form in the past and hopes to get back to that from the outside post 9 Saturday. Nik Juarez will be in the saddle.

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2017 United Nations Stakes Odds & Entries

Race 11 on Monmouth Park's Saturday card with a Post Time of 5:57 PM.