Main Sequence Back to Defend Title in United Nations

Last summer on the Jersey Shore, trainer Graham Motion brought a European invader to the $500,000 United Nations (Grade 1) at Monmouth Park, who was riding a 10-race losing streak. Four months later that gelding had reeled off four straight Grade 1 victories, wrapped up the Eclipse Awards for top turf male and top older male.  

His name is Main Sequence, and he is back looking to defend his title in the United Nations and stamp his ticket and defend his title in this year’s Breeders’ Cup Turf (Grade 1). The United Nations is part of the “Win and You’re In” Breeders’ Cup Challenge, with the winner earning an all-expenses-paid trip to Keeneland for this year’s Breeders’ Cup.

The race will be televised live as part of the Jockey Club Tour on Fox. The 90-minute telecast gets underway at 4:30 p.m. ET and will open with a segment entitled, “American Pharoah: Finally the One.” It will include a live remote interview with trainer Bob Baffert and a feature on American Pharoah’s jockey, Victor Espinoza.

The broadcast will also highlight The Square Peg Foundation, a farm in Northern California that re-trains racehorses to help challenged kids.

In addition to coverage of the United Nations, the $150,000 Salvator Mile (Grade 3) for three-year-olds and up will be shown live from Monmouth Park.

Main Sequence is the 5-2 morning line favorite for the United Nations but is facing a very tough field and is coming back off a three-month break. The gelding was seventh in the Dubai Sheema Classic (Group 1) in his last outing on March 28.

Jim Dietz/Associated Press

The gelding is ranked fifth in the latest America’s Best Racing Top Thoroughbred Poll and is the top-ranked turf horse.

He will have his hands full on Sunday as he faces four foes that are Grade 1 winners—Twilight Eclipse, Big Blue Kitten, Slumber and Imagining.

Here is a look at my top three selections for the United Nations:

Win: Big Blue Kitten

Big Blue Kitten won the United Nations back in 2013 but comes into the this race having won just one of his last six starts, taking the Ft. Marcy (Grade 3) on May 2 at Belmont Park. The seven-year-old always seems to fire, landing in the money in 23 of his 26 career starts and has earned triple digit Beyer Speed Figures in seven straight outings.

The Chad Brown-trained ridgling will get firmer ground than he got last out in his runner-up finish to Slumber in the Manhattan (Grade 1). He looks primed for a top effort in his third start off the bench. He is getting a five-pound weight break from our second and third choices.

Place: Twilight Eclipse

Twilight Eclipse finished behind Main Sequence five straight times and finally got his first Grade 1 victory taking the Man O' War two back. The gelding did not fire his best last out in a disappointing seventh in the Manhattan, but he is better with firmer footing.

Twice last year he lost photos to Main Sequence, including in this race last year where he was beaten by a neck in a tough beat. The gelding is better than he showed last out, and I am looking for him to bounce back with a much better effort. Among the top three contenders, he likely is going to offer the best wagering value.

Show: Main Sequence

Main Sequence was perfect last year when shipping to the U.S., winning four Grade 1 races and the Eclipse Award for top turf and top older male. Things did not go well when he shipped to Dubai in March for the Dubai Sheema Classic where he was off a step slow and weakened to finish seventh.

He won this race last year in his U.S. debut, which was off an 8 1/2 month layoff. His four wins were won by just a neck, head, neck and a half-length. He returns off a three-month break here for the Graham Motion barn. I have a hunch his price is going to be less than his 5-2 morning line.

Morning line odds via Equibase

Follow Michael Dempsey on Twitter @turfnsport