United Nations

TRACK BANDIT PREVIEWS

CHAMPS ELYSEES (GB) (Danehill) is our top choice in Saturday's United Nations

S. (G1), which may have come up a little light considering its $750,000 purse.

After holding his own at the group level in France last year, the bay

five-year-old won the San Marcos S. (G2) and then finished a good third to

Heatseeker (Ire) and synthetic specialist Go Between (Point

Given) in the Santa Anita H. (G1) in his first two starts this season. Champs Elysees just missed in the Jim Murray Memorial H. (G2) in his next start, and

then may have been too far back and given too much to do when last seen

finishing sixth in the Charlie Whittingham Memorial H. (G1). The Bobby Frankel

trainee holds a decided class edge over these and should garner his first Grade

1 victory.

The very consistent STRIKE A DEAL (Smart Strike) has been knocking at the

door of the graded level and exits an excellent fourth-place effort to Dancing

Forever (Rahy) in the Manhattan H. (G1) on Belmont Stakes Day. The Alan Goldberg

pupil has an abundance of tactical speed and rates our sleeper under Jose

Lezcano, who has a 29 percent strike rate at this venue.

The speedy BUDDY'S HUMOR (Distorted Humor) won the Jersey Derby last year and

comes off a near front-running victory in the Elkwood S. on May 24. That gives

him a two-for-two record in stakes races over this surface. In addition, he is

trained by Bruce Levine, who is saddling 48 percent winners at this meeting.

Buddy's Humor figures to be in the mix early and rates our upset special.

The Bill Mott-trained EQUITABLE (A.P. Indy) was a good-looking winner going

nine furlongs on the grass at Belmont Park in his latest. The lightly raced

four-year-old has a lot of upside and could light the board at square odds under

Kent Desormeaux.

INDEPENDENT GEORGE (Cozzene) and SUDAN (Ire) (Peintre Celebre) are both

eligible for an in-the-money placing. The former was a decent fourth in the

Shadwell Turf Mile (G1) at Keeneland last fall and comes off a game victory in the Sussex S. at

Delaware Park for trainer Graham Motion. The latter, an Italian Group 1 winner,

was a front-running winner in the Golden Gate Fields Turf S. (G3) for Frankel

last out. Either one is worth a second look for the exotics.

RA DER DEAN (Rahy) set the early tempo before finishing third in the Dixie S.

(G2), then romped by three against allowance foes at Philadelphia Park in his

latest. He has some upset potential under new rider Anna Napravnik. Pan American

H. (G3) winner PRESIOUS PASSION (Royal Anthem) can't be totally dismissed as

well. Stakes winner CROWN POINT (Honor Grades) seems unlikely.