Mandella eyes Del Mar stakes for Breeders' Cup runner-up United

Hall of Fame trainer Richard Mandella didn’t add to his Breeders’ Cup victory totals during the championship event last weekend.

But he came close with runner-up finishes by Omaha Beach in the $1 million Dirt Mile, beaten 2 ¾ lengths by Spun to Run, and United, beaten only a head by Horse of the Year candidate Bricks and Mortar in the $4 million Longines Breeders’ Cup Turf.

Both horses came out of the races in good shape, Mandella said Thursday. With Omaha Beach a candidate for the Malibu (G1) on Dec. 26 and Pegasus World Cup (G1) in January before his retirement to Spendthrift Farm, he'll continue competing at the top level.

United, a 4-year-old son of Giant’s Causeway, has three wins, none of them stakes, while earning more than $850,000 in earnings from 10 career starts.

“We might run him in the turf handicap (Seabiscuit) at the end of the meeting,” Mandella said. “He’s just run, so it might be a little quick, but we’ll see how he is closer to the race.” 

LNJ Foxwoods campaigns United, a gelding who has made seven starts this year but didn't try stakes company until a runner-up in Santa Anita's Charles Whittingham (G2) back in May. He returned to win a 1 1/8-mile turf allowance on opening day of Del Mar's summer meet, then prepped for the Breeders' Cup with a third in the John Henry Turf Championship (G1).

The Grade 2, $200,000 Seabiscuit is set for Nov. 30 goes at 1 1/16 miles on the Del Mar turf and may attract a second Breeders' Cup runner-up should Om reappear there after competing in the Turf Sprint.