United looks to defend title in John Henry Turf Championship
One of the top turf horses in the nation over the past three years, Richard Mandella’s United is back to defend his title in Saturday’s Grade 2, $200,000 John Henry Turf Championship as he heads a strong field of 13 3-year-olds and up going 1 1/4 miles.
Dating back to his win in the Eddie Read Stakes (G2) in July of 2020, United has settled into an eight-race pattern in which he’s won every other start. With a close fourth place finish in the Del Mar Handicap (G2) on Aug. 21 coming on the heels of a neck victory in the Eddie Read on July 24, Mandella is hoping the win-lose-win pattern holds on Saturday.
Ridden by Flavien Prat in all but two of his 18 starts with Mandella, United will again be partnered with French-born superstar in the John Henry as he readies for a third try in the Breeders’ Cup Turf at Del Mar Nov. 6.
In an old school move, Mandella had United blow out three furlongs this morning in a bullet 36.40. Owned by LNJ Foxwoods, United is a 6-year-old gelding by Giant’s Causeway. With five wins from 11 starts over the Santa Anita lawn, including a head defeat in the 2019 Breeders’ Cup Turf, United is 21-9-4-1 overall with earnings of $1,693,549.
In what will be his fourth start for Peter Miller, Neptune’s Storm comes off a close fourth place finish in the Del Mar Mile (G2) and although he’s in good form, he’ll be trying a mile and one quarter for the first time. Second, beaten a half length as the 4-5 favorite in the American Stakes (G3) at one mile on turf three races back on June 20, this 5-year-old Stormy Atlantic gelding took the one mile turf restricted Wickerr in gate to wire fashion two starts back on July 18.
Owned by CYBT, Saul Gervertz, Lynn Goetz, Michael Nentwig and David Weiner, Neptune’s Storm is a two-time graded stakes winner with earnings of $936,485 from an overall mark of 22-7-4-6.
In his first start for trainer Michael McCarthy, Chilean-bred Master Piece rallied from far off the pace to finish second, beaten a half length in the Del Mar Handicap (G2) at 1 3/8 miles on turf and would benefit greatly from some fast early fractions on Saturday.
Front-running California-bred Acclimate tired late to finish a close third in the Del Mar Handicap, his lone start since winning the marathon San Juan Capistrano Stakes (G3) at a mile and three quarters on turf at Santa Anita June 19. Trained by Phil D’Amato, this 7-year-old gelding by Acclamation, who was a close second in the 2019 John Henry, appears at the top of his game and could pose an elusive target with Ricky Gonzalez back aboard.