Grade 1 United Nations Draws Field of 9 at Monmouth Park

By Tom Luicci —-

CHAD BROWN TO SEND OUT FOUR IN GRADE 1 UNITED NATIONS
DURING SATURDAY’S STAKES-FILLED MONMOUTH PARK CARD

OCEANPORT, N.J. – Trainer Chad Brown will send out a four-pronged attack in the Grade 1 United Nations at Monmouth Park on Saturday, June 30, looking to add to a turf portfolio that is already one of the most impressive in the sport’s history.

Brown, who has won two straight Eclipse Awards as the nation’s top trainer, has entered Money Multiplier, Silverwave, Kurilov and Funtastic in the mile and 3/8ths grass race for 3-year-olds and up that highlights a 13-race card featuring four stakes races. The United Nations drew of a field of nine.

The Grade 3 Philip H. Iselin Stakes, the Grade 3 Eatontown Stakes and the Lady’s Secret Stakes will serve as the supporting stakes races to the $300,000 United Nations.

Money Multiplier, who won the Grade 2 Monmouth Stakes for the second straight year on May 26, has shown a particular affinity for the Monmouth turf course, finishing second in the United Nations in 2016. Both of his Monmouth Stakes victories were on the grass as well.

“He seems to really like Monmouth’s turf course. That’s his biggest asset in this race,” said Brown, who plans to be in attendance to saddle his quartet of runners. “He has proven he’s a top quality horse. He was narrowly beaten in the United Nations two years ago, so I think he has a good chance in the race.”

While the French-bred Silverwave “has been disappointing” since coming to Brown’s powerhouse stable three starts ago, the 6-year-old does own a Group 1 victory in France, having won the Grand Prix de Saint Cloud in 2016.

“I feel he is training much better now than he has at any time since he has been in our care,” said Brown. “It’s worth taking a shot based on his workouts, particularly the last one. So I’m going to take a shot in a big race with him and hope he regains that past form.”

The Chilean-bred Kurilov comes off a dead-heat win in an allowance optional claimer at Belmont Park on May 25, his fifth start since coming to Brown. The son of Lookin At Lucky-Kassanova was second in the Grade 1 Gulfstream Park Turf Stakes on Feb. 10 and captured the Grade 1 Gran Primo Hippodromo Chile in his last start in Chile in 2017.

Funtastic, a 4-year-old Kentucky-bred, comes in off a victory in an allowance optional claimer at Belmont Park on May 26. He shows a 3-2-1 line from eight career starts but has never faced the caliber of competition he will in the United Nations.

“This is a big class test for him,” said Brown. “No question this is a big challenge for him. We’ll see how he handles it.”

Brown, whose turf earnings of $16.5 million last year were nearly twice that of his nearest competitor, has amassed more than $88 million on the turf (of his $130 million-plus earnings overall) during a career that started in 2007. Brown is off to an impressive start at the Monmouth Park meeting, showing a 9-5-5 line from his 24 starters.

First race post is 12:50 p.m. for Saturday’s 13-race card, which will also feature a carryover of $61,611in the Jersey Shore Pick 6.

The field for the Grade 1 United Nations, in post position order with jockey and trainer):

1 – Funtastic (Antonio Gallardo, Chad Brown)
2 – One Go All Go (Chris Landeros, Charles Dickey)
3 – Profiteer (Trevor McCarthy, Claude McGaughey III)
4 – Kurilov (Irad Ortiz, Chad Brown)
5 – Money Multiplier (Joe Bravo, Chad Brown)
6 – Oscar Nominated (Eric Cancel, Mike Maker)
7 – Silverwave (Rajiv Maragh, Chad Brown)
8 – Bigger Picture (Kendrick Carmouche, Mike Maker)
9 – Vettori Kin (Paco Lopez, Ken McPeek)