United Nations J

AMERICAN

GRADED STAKES PREVIEWS

A handful of Group or Grade 1 winners make up five of the nine entered for

the $750,000 United Nations S. (G1) at Monmouth Park on Saturday. We had trouble

choosing a top selection in this well-matched field but will go with who we

think is the 'now' horse.

WINCHESTER (Theatrical [Ire]) ran big in the recent Manhattan H. (G1) when

annexing his second Grade 1 win. The Christophe Clement charge has finished

second in both tries at this distance, and it's more than possible that the late

runner gets a nice pace to run at in this deep field. Cornelio Velasquez will pilot

the win candidate, who we envision rolling home in the final stages.

Competitive French import CHINCON (Ire) (Marju) lured Garrett Gomez and hails

from a top European barn, so we have to respect the five-year-old. The dual Group 3 hero was a competitive fourth in the

2009 Man o' War S. (G1) in his U.S. bow

against a field that was at least this good last campaign, and seems surely

capable of knocking off this group with something close to his best.

Multiple Grade 1 winner TAKE THE POINTS (Even the Score) was a solid fourth in

his first try since traveling to Dubai when taking the lead in the lane of the

Manhattan last out. Conditioned by Todd Pletcher, the gray colt is a

very solid performer who deserves to be mentioned with the better turf runners in

the country, but we have no idea if this trip will suit him. We will definitely

include the colt in all of our plays with Edgar Prado, just in case he thrives

at this extended distance.

We like the forward cycle West Coast invader ACCLAMATION (Unusual Heat) has

shown in recent races, and we'll tab the California-bred for a possible upset in

here. Trained by Donald Warren, the bay colt has really blossomed since trying marathon distances in his last pair and we don't think it's a fluke. The

four-year-old should be on or near the front early, and as long as he's not

pressed in the early stages, we think he'll be tough to run down on this oft

speed-favoring turf course.

Sword Dancer Invitational S. (G1) winner TELLING (A.P. Indy) has let us down

since upsetting that Grade 1 field last summer, but we can excuse the well-bred

bay for some of those and include him in our multi-race tickets on this day for

trainer Steve Hobby. The six-year-old, a flat fifth in the Louisville H. (G3)

most recently, could improve in his third start off the break and first with

jockey Eibar Coa.

Monmouth stalwart GET SERIOUS (City Zip) shouldn't be dismissed in here due

to his love of the local turf course for John Forbes. The gelded six-year-old

has a ton of early speed and should be very forwardly placed from the opening

bell, but that tactic could prove fatal if he duels early at a distance foreign

to him. The recent Monmouth S. (G3) star is in excellent form but could be up

against it with the abundance of pace in here.

We've long awaited Grade 1-placed LAUREATE CONDUCTOR (Bernstein) to break

through at this level, and while we don't want to miss out if he tops this bunch

and pays a bundle, we simply can't endorse him from the widest post. STRAIGHT STORY (Giant's Causeway) also has some early speed but will likely

tuck in just behind the leaders early. The dark bay

four-year-old has dominated two overmatched fields in 2010 but gets a real

test in here. We're not sure if he's ready to top a field of this caliber. Brazilian Group 1 import JEUNE-TURC (Brz) (Know Heights [Ire]) would be a

surprise in his first in the United States.