Champion Main Sequence (Aldebaran) looks to return to his winning ways with a successful title defense Sunday in Monmouth Park's GI United Nations S. A victory in this “Win and You're in” event would secure him a spot in the starting gate at Keeneland Oct. 31 to attempt another title defense in the GI Breeders' Cup Turf. After three seasons racing in Europe, the Flaxman Holdings homebred stamped himself as one to watch with an impressive victory in this event last term while making his American debut for trainer Graham Motion. He employed his furious late turn of foot to capture three more victories at the highest level last year in Saratoga's GI Sword Dancer Invitational S., Belmont's GI Turf Classic Invitational S. and the Breeders' Cup Turf at Santa Anita., which earned him the Eclipse awards for both champion older male and champion turf male. Main Sequence showed that he didn't lose anything during his brief freshening when capturing Gulfstream's GII Mac Diarmida in his seasonal bow Feb. 21, but could only manage seventh when facing much tougher rivals last time in the G1 Dubai Sheema Classic at Meydan Mar. 28. The 6-year-old has been working well since returning from Dubai and both his trainer and the public are confident the morning-line favorite will return to his previous form. “Both workouts have looked good,” said Motion. “I could have ran him a few weeks ago, but wanted to put him in the best spot possible.”
West Point Thoroughbreds's Twilight Eclipse (Purim) takes yet another crack at the champ here after finishing second to him in this test last term. Finishing second or third to Main Sequence in their next four starts, the Tom Albertrani trainee finished a close third to the reopposing Imagining (Giant's Causeway) in Hallandale's GII Pan American S. while Main Sequence was out of the country Mar. 28, and finally earned his Grade I with a win in Belmont's Man o' War S. May 9. The bay was last seen finishing seventh behind Michael Dubb, Sheep Pond Partners and Bethlehem Stables's Slumber (GB) (Cacique {Ire}) in Belmont's GI Manhattan S. June 6.
The Chad Brown-trained Slumber finished second in both the GII Mervin Muniz Jr. H. Mar. 28 and GI Woodford Reserve Turf Classic May 2 prior to his 14-1 upset in the Manhattan. Winner of last term's Man o' War, Phipps Stable homebred Imagining also completed the exotics behind Main Sequence on multiple occasions last term. Off the board in both the Breeders' Cup Turf and GI Gulfstream Park Turf H., the chestnut followed his win in the Pan American with a fifth-place effort in the Manhattan.
Ken and Sarah Ramsey homebred Big Blue Kitten (Kitten's Joy) captured the 2013 renewal of both this race and the Sword Dancer, and kicked off this term with a win in this venue's GIII Fort Marcy S. May 2 and a second in the Manhattan.
ACADEMIC HOPES TO BE 'QUEEN'
Bear Stables's Academic (Henny Hughes) looks to follow in the hoofprints of Canadian Horse of the Year Lexie Lou (Sligo Bay {Ire}) by completing the Woodbine Oaks/Queen's Plate double Sunday. Earning her diploma at third asking while making her sophomore bow over this course May 15, the bay blew up the tote next out with a 66-1 upset of the 1 1/8-mile Woodbine Oaks June 14. Like Lexie Lou, the Reade Baker pupil is the lone filly in this field of 14.
Charles Fipke homebred Danish Dynaformer (Dynaformer) was given the morning-line nod here off a victory in the Plate Trial June 14. A third out graduate on the turf at Gulfstream Feb. 21, the Roger Attfield trainee won a grassy Keeneland allowance next out Apr. 11 and was third to Shaman Ghost (Ghostzapper) in the GIII Marine S. over this surface May 16 prior to his success last time. Also exiting the Plate Trial is Conquest Boogaloo (Scat Daddy) (third),Portree (Niigon) (fourth), Billy's Star (sixth) and Bear At Last (Marchfield) (seventh).
Conditioned by Brian Lynch, Stronach Stables homebred Shaman Ghost broke through at fourth asking on the dirt at Gulfstream Mar. 14 and followed suit with a narrow victory in a main track Keeneland allowance Apr. 9. The Marine was his first start on the Woodbine synthetic since finishing fourth in his sprint debut here Oct. 19.
Also exiting the Marine is seventh-place finisher Ami's Flatter (Flatter), trained by Josie Carroll. A debut winner over this strip last November, the bay was second in Hallandale's Mucho Macho Man S. Jan. 3 and fourth in Tampa's GIII Sam F. Davis S. Jan. 31. The Ivan Dalos colorbearer finished second to MGISW 'TDN Rising Star' Carpe Diem (Giant's Causeway) in the GII Tampa Bay Derby Mar. 7 and was a well beaten third behind fellow Todd Pletcher-trained Rising Star Materiality (Afleet Alex) next out in the GI Florida Derby at Gulfstream Mar. 28. Following a failed effort as the favorite in the Marine, Ami's Flatter gets the blinkers off in this one.
RACE DAY SEEKS THIRD STRAIGHT
Mathew Schera's Race Day (Tapit) seeks his third consecutive graded stakes success Sunday in Monmouth Park's GIII Salvator Mile. Purchased for $285,000 out of the 2014 Keeneland November sale as part of a strong WinStar Farm Horses of Racing Age draft, the gray was transferred from Kellyn Gorder to Todd Pletcher and captured his debut for his new conditioner in a Hallandale optional claimer Dec. 21. Third to Valid (Medaglia d'Oro) in that venue's GIII Fred W. Hooper S. Feb. 7, the 4-year-old got back on track with consecutive victories in Oaklawn's GIII Razorback H. Mar. 14 and GII Oaklawn H. Apr. 11.
Crossed Sabres Farm's Valid, winner of last term's GII Monmouth Cup, followed his Fred Hooper success with a third to GI Metropolitan H. hero and 'TDN Rising Star' Honor Code (A.P. Indy) in the GII Gulfstream Park H. Mar. 7. Fifth toPants On Fire (Jump Start) in Hallandale's Sir Shackleton S. Mar. 28, the dark bay was a neck second in a Parx allowance May 2 and was second to Red Vine (Candy Ride {Arg}) in this venue's Majestic Light S. May 23.
Jon and Sarah Kelly's Red Vine takes a step up in class here for trainer Christophe Clement after three consecutive victories in a pair of Aqueduct optional claimers and the Majestic Light. George and Lori Hall's Pants On Fire followed his Sir Shackleton win with a third behind MGISW Private Zone (Macho Uno) in the GII Churchill Downs S. May 2 and was seventh last time in the Met Mile.
A few other interesting contenders for the exotics are last year's GIII Ack Ack H. winner Bradester (Lion Heart), 2014 GII Amsterdam S. hero Coup de Grace (Tapit) and last term's Spectacular Bid S. upsetter Just Call Kenny (Jump Start).
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