Big Blue Kitten wins the United Nations again
Trainer Chad Brown continued his amazing Fourth of July weekend when Big Blue Kitten upset Main Sequence, last year’s Male Turf Champion, to win the United Nations (G1) at Monmouth Park for the second time.
Big Blue Kitten, who won this race in 2013, joins the elite company of turf stars like Round Table, Manila, Mongo, and English Channel that have won the United Nations twice. Jockey Joe Bravo, who was on Big Blue Kitten both times, won his third UN having also won in 2012 on Turbo Compressor.
Big Blue Kitten, who is owned by Ken and Sarah Ramsey, used some old-fashioned race tactics when they entered Shining Copper in the race to establish a fast early pace to set up the closing move of Big Blue Kitten. Brown talked about their plan, “We worked as a team. Mike Maker was nice enough to put this horse [Shining Copper] at Mr. Ramsey’s request and Abel Castellano really did a good job as a team player and set a nice solid pace and strung the field out just enough to give him [Big Blue Kitten] a good pace to run at.”
Shining Copper jumped right out of the gate, pushing the pace [23.88, 47.58, 1:11.84] while opening up a lead of eight lengths after three-quarters of a mile. The California invader, Ashleyluvssugar, tried to keep up with the pace. All the while Big Blue Kitten saved ground on the rail in seventh place.
Heading into the final turn Bravo moved his mount to the outside and began to close in on the leader. At the top of the stretch they were in second place with only the rabbit, Shining Copper, to catch; and they did that with ease. Big Blue Kitten hit the wire 1 ½ lengths in front of Slumber, who was also trained by Brown. Twilight Eclipse finished third and Shining Copper managed to hold on for fourth.
After the race “Jersey Joe” Bravo talked about the winner, “Man, I keep saying it but he’s just like an old glass of wine – he keeps getting better with age. I was surprised with how close he was. Usually he’s a little more docile and further back. It wasn’t a concerted effort to be in front of Main Sequence, it’s just how it turned out. This horse was really good last year. He got beat less than five lengths in the Breeders’ Cup and I thought that was the worst race he ever ran. And this year, he’s just come back bigger and stronger and it looks like better than ever.”
Main Sequence never made his usual closing move and ended up finishing seventh in the field of nine. His rider, Rajiv Maragh had no excuses, “We had the perfect trip. The pace was there and we sat just where we wanted to, but it just wasn’t our day. Graham (trainer Motion) is a great trainer and he will know what’s next for him.”
Big Blue Kitten won for the 13th time in his career and his earnings jumped up to $2,090,830. Sent off as the 4.40-1 second choice the son of Kitten’s Joy paid $10.80, 3.40, and 2.60. In addition, the United Nations was a "Win and You're In" race that earned Big Blue Kitten a spot in the Breeders' Cup Turf on Oct. 31 at Keeneland.
Brown wrapped things up in the winner’s circle, “We’ll look at the Bowling Green (Aug. 1 at Saratoga) or the Arlington Million (Aug. 15 at Arlington) are the most likely next starts for him. This horse is just so consistent. What a great runner.”