United Nations

The $750,000 United Nations S. (G1), scheduled for Saturday at Monmouth Park,

looks like a summit of the top East Coast turf performers, if the 1 3/8-mile

test isn't scrapped because of the ongoing New Jersey state government shutdown.

Last year's winner, BETTER TALK NOW (Talkin Man), is the horse to beat, but

he'll have to conquer a much deeper field this time around if he's to repeat.

With that in mind, we'll side with Canadian International S. (Can-G1) hero

RELAXED GESTURE (Ire) (Indian Ridge), who's coming off a tremendous runner-up

effort in the Manhattan H. (G1). The Christophe Clement charge was compromised

by the early crawl, yet he closed from last with a powerful rush to go down by a

head, earning a 106 BRIS Late Pace rating. Although he's often regarded as a

soft ground specialist, the chestnut has posted strong Speed figures on firm

ground as well, particularly when finishing a close second in last year's

Manhattan (103) and Bowling Green H. (G2) (104). We think that Relaxed Gesture

will capitalize on the strong pace provided by SHAKE THE BANK (Siphon [Brz]),

Better Talk Now's rabbit, and will come flying late beneath Kent Desormeaux at

odds probably higher than his 7-2 morning line.

Better Talk Now is exiting an outstanding victory in his seasonal

reappearance, the Dixie S. (G2), in which he bulled his way between rivals to

get up in the shadow of the wire. The 2004 Breeders' Cup Turf (G1) hero recorded

an astronomical 120 Late Pace figure for that effort, and if he duplicates that

here, it's lights out for the rest. The Graham Motion-trained veteran will

appreciate the added distance of the United Nations, with a terrific 4-2-1-0

mark at this 1 3/8-mile trip. We're a bit surprised that he rates no better than

third choice at 3-1 on the morning line, and we'd be even more surprised if he

goes off at that generous a price.

ENGLISH CHANNEL (Smart Strike), fourth last time out in the Manhattan, didn't

run up to his ability on that occasion partly because he failed to settle in the

dawdling opening stages as well as he usually does. That isn't likely to happen

again, with Shake the Bank livening up proceedings, so the Todd Pletcher runner

figures to perform up to his best. Winner of the Woodford Reserve Turf

Classic S. (G1) and Canadian Turf H. in his first two outings of 2006, English

Channel was a narrowly beaten runner-up in the 2005 Joe Hirsch Turf Classic

Invitational S. (G1) at 1 1/2 miles and a respectable fifth in the Breeders' Cup

Turf, defeating Better Talk Now. This game scrapper will be in the mix and won't

go down without a fight.

CACIQUE (Ire) (Danehill) stole the 1 1/4-mile Manhattan under a clever

front-running ride by Edgar Prado. Despite having everything his way, the

royally bred Juddmonte Farms colorbearer still barely held on from Relaxed

Gesture. He won't enjoy the same circumstances while tackling the extra furlong

in this spot, and we're not convinced he can outsprint the top two if he reverts

to come from behind tactics. In other words, we think this representative from

the Bobby Frankel barn is likely to be overbet at 2-1 on the morning line, but

we can't leave him out of the exotics.

SILVERFOOT (With Approval) loves the distance (5-3-1-0). Those three wins

have come in consecutive runnings of the Louisville H. (G3) at Churchill Downs,

with his three-peat accomplished in his last outing on May 29, and his

second-place finish dates back to last year's United Nations. Although he's

stepping up in class, the nearly white six-year-old is eminently qualified to

add value to the gimmicks at 6-1.

Pletcher's other entrant, RAMAZUTTI (Honor Grades), has a pair of Grade 3

placings on his resume, the Louisville last time out and the Pan American H.

(G3) three starts ago. The four-year-old dictated the pace on each occasion

before just getting caught late, which suggests that he'll be up against it in a

rough pace scenario in better company here. Shake the Bank will do his duty for

Better Talk Now, and we can't see him being involved at the finish.