United Nations Stakes Preview: Brown Sends Four to the Jersey Shore

A field of nine are set to contest Saturday’s Grade 1, $300,000 United Nations Stakes, but trainer Chad Brown seems to have this field over a barrel, having entered four of his own. Brown already posts one of the most impressive turf resumes in horse racing history, and he will only look to add to that impressive list with this race. A total of four stakes races will highlight the card at Monmouth on Saturday, making it the second-biggest day of the meet behind Haskell Stakes Day.

The most formidable of the Brown foursome is Money Multiplier. He shipped here in 2017 off of a long layoff to win the Grade 2 Monmouth Stakes, then shipped here once again back in May and defended his title. He was narrowly defeated in this race two years ago and has proven to be a quality horse, having competed with the nation’s best throughout his career.

Silverwave is another Brown entry with some back class, winning a 2016 Group 1 event in France. He horse has been a bit disappointing in the United States, especially since expectations were high when he arrived in the Brown barn, but that could all change with a strong performance on Saturday. He seems to be working out very well leading up to this race.

Brown’s other two entries consistent of Kurilov and Funtastic. Kurilov, a Chilean-bred, has had success since showing up in Brown’s barn. He is coming off of a dead-heat victory last time out and was second in the Grade 1 Gulfstream Park Turf Stakes in February. Funtastic is also coming into the race off of a turf allowance score at Belmont Park, but he must step up in class for this event.

The full field from the rail out: Funtastic, One Go All Go, Profiteer, Kurilov, Money Multiplier, Oscar Nominated, Silverwave, Bigger Picture, and Vettori Kin. Local post time for the race will be 6:01 PM ET.

Top Choice

#5 Money Multiplier – This horse absolutely loves Monmouth Park, which makes him very hard to pick against. He has won the Monmouth Stakes two years in a row and nearly won the United Nations two years ago, finishing second to World Approval by a little over a length. Money Multiplier has been matched up against some of the best turf horses in the country over the last few years and seldom backs down from any sort of challenge. He could simply be the best horse in the race and is running over a track that he loves, which makes him very difficult to beat.

Horses to Use in Multi Race Wagers

#4 Kurilov – Since coming to the United States, this horse had been solid but struggled to win until dead-heating for a victory last time out against Belmont Park allowance foes. He also was a very solid runner-up in the Gulfstream Park Turf this winter, which further demonstrated his immense talent. If he can run that kind of race again here, then he will have a big shot, and I have a feeling that Brown wouldn’t have entered Kurilov in this race unless he was confident that the horse was ready to run a big one.

#2 One Go All Go – He has quietly had a very productive year, hitting the board in five of seven stakes races while also winning the Grade 2 Dixiana Elkhorn Stakes three races back at Keeneland. He followed that up with a solid third in the Grade 1 Man o’ War Stakes at Belmont Park, but he did struggle last out in the Grade 1 Manhattan Stakes. This race should set up much better for him, though, and it seems to be a much easier spot, too. If he can get back on track, then he should set the pace and be the one that they all have to catch in the end.

#8 Bigger Picture – The defending champion is back looking for two in a row. Bigger Picture burst onto the turf scene last year when winning this race at odds of 10-1, then shipped to Saratoga soon after, where he hit the board in two very tough races. This year, he won his 2018 debut in a Grade 3 event at Sam Houston, but he has not run well in his last two starts. Getting back to Monmouth Park will be a big help, though, and there should be some pace in this race that could set it up well for a closer like Bigger Picture.

Exotic Plays

#6 Oscar Nominated – He could be the most consistent turf horse in America because he always shows up in races like this and makes an impact. He has run three straight 99 Beyer speed figures in a row and picked up a victory three back in the Grade 3 W.L. McKnight Handicap at Gulfstream Park. Last time out, he was third in the Elkhorn at Keeneland, beaten by only 3/4 of a length. No matter where he runs, you can always count on him to give a solid effort.

#3 Profiteer – This colt has always shown consistency, having hit the board in 10 of 13 starts, and is coming into this race off of a dead-heat victory with fellow competitor Kurilov. The only discouraging factor is the fact that this horse does not have a stakes win on his resume. This seems like an awfully tough spot to pick up a first stakes win, so hitting the board could be his ceiling.

Party Crashers

#7 Silverwave – The third part of Brown’s foursome has been a bit of a disappointment since coming to the United States. However, his recent workouts have been strong, which means that he could be ready for a top effort at the perfect time, and you can easily see him turning his recent poor form around under Brown’s tutelage. If this 6-year-old can recapture some of his magic, then  he will have a shot here at a price.

#1 Funtastic – Brown admits that this race will be a class test for this horse, but he also believes that he is ready to compete with this sort of company. He enters this race off of an impressive allowance win at Belmont Park, which earned him the right to give a race like this a shot. In his only other stakes attempt, he was second in the $150,000 Gio Ponti Stakes at Aqueduct. This will be a large test for him, but if the price is right, then he might be worth a swing.

Throw Outs

#9 Vettori Kin – This will be the lone throwout in what looks to be an ultra-competitive field. Even this horse has a lot going for him, having win the Grade 3 Louisville Handicap last time out at Churchill Downs. His speed figures are just a small cut below, though, which lands him in this throw out spot.