MONMOUTH: GRADE 1 UNITED NATIONS STAKES PREVIEW

By Tom Luicci —-

BIGGER PICTURE, ZULU ALPHA GIVE TRAINER MIKE MAKER

OCEANPORT, N.J. – Trainer Michael Maker knows the time is drawing near when Bigger Picture won’t be able to continue to be competitive in graded stakes company but until that happens he’s going to keep sending out the 8-year-old gelding with the expectation he will add to his impressive career credentials.

“I hope he continues racing at this level a little longer, but when the time comes that he is not on the top of his game and can’t do it he will be missed dearly,” Maker said.

Bigger Picture, who won the United Nations Stakes in 2017 and was third in last year’s edition, heads the field for Saturday’s 66th running of the Grade 1 United Nations at Monmouth Park – one of four stakes races on the 13-race card.

Maker will be represented by two of the eight starters in the field for the $300,000 feature race at a mile and three-eighths on the grass. Zulu Alpha, who has won seven of 21 career turf starts, will join stable mate Bigger Picture in the starting gate for the United Nations.

“Both of my horses have been doing well,” Maker said. “They’ve been keeping solid company all year so I expect them to show up like they always do.”

Bigger Picture, a winner of more than $1.6 million from 40 career starts (13 wins), comes in off a victory in the Grade 2 Elkhorn Stakes at Keeneland on April 20 and has two wins in three starts this year.

Saturday will mark his fourth straight appearance in the United Nations.

“He’s exceeded all of my expectations,” said Maker. “It’s hard to believe this is his fourth straight year in this race.”

Joe Bravo, whose rail-skimming trip helped Bigger Picture win the United Nations in 2017, again has the mount. Zulu Alpha, with two graded stakes victories this year, is scheduled to be ridden by Channing Hill.

If the persistent week-long rain causes the turf course to be yielding or soft, Maker is fine with that for both of his runners. Bigger Picture won the Elkhorn on a yielding grass course. Zulu Alpha won the Grade 3 W.L. McKnight Stakes at Gulfstream on Jan. 26 over a yielding course.

“They can both handle a soft or yielding turf course,” he said. “I’d prefer it to be firm even though they have run well on a yielding turf.”

Trainer Chad Brown, who had four starters in last year’s United Nations and won the race with 23-1 shot Funtastic, has two starters in the field in Arrocha and Focus Group.

The United Nations will go as the 11th race on the card.

The undercard includes the Grade 3 Philip H. Iselin Stakes, the Grade 3 Eatontown Stakes and the Lady’s Secret Stakes.

RUNNIN’TOLUVYA SEEKS 11TH STRAIGHT WIN IN ISELIN STAKES

Trainer Timothy Grams has only raced Runnin’toluvya once outside of West Virginia – and that was three years ago – but based on the 5-year-old gelding’s recent form spree he feels it’s time to try again.

That’s why Runnin’toluvya, the Winx of West Virginia, will put his 10-race winning streak on the line in Saturday’s Grade 3 Philip H. Iselin Stakes at Monmouth Park.

Runnin’toluvya has not lost since May 17, 2018, when he was second by a neck, following up that defeat by reeling off 10 straight victories, all at Charles Town. He legitimized his winning streak by capturing the Grade 2 Charles Town Classic at a mile and an eighth over Diamond King and War Story.

“He sure has exceeded all of our expectations,” said Grams. “He’s been a real special horse for us. So far he has shown he can step to the plate when the competition gets better. This is another test, to see if he can do it on the road.

“You never know if they’re going to take their game on the road, so we’ll see.”

The Iselin Stakes, at a mile and a sixteenth for 3-year-olds-and-up, has attracted a competitive field of seven. Diamond King will try Runnin’toluvya again in a field that includes the Todd Pletcher-trained Bal Harbour and 2018 Long Branch Stakes winner Navy Commander.

Grams, whose wife Judy partners with him in his training operation, also owns Runnin’toluvya.

“The longer the winning streak goes the more pressure there is, I think,” he said. “It gives you confidence because the horse is so good. But you know it’s going to end soon even though you don’t want it to.”

Runnin’toluvya has won 11 of his 12 starts the past two years (with one second) and is 13 for 17 lifetime. If he wins the Iselin Stakes he would become Grams’ first millionaire.

“That would mean a lot,” said Grams. “It would be a huge career accomplishment for me and my wife.”

Runnin’toluvya has raced exclusively at Charles Town ever since suffering a condylar fracture as a 2-year-old following a race at Laurel, an injury that sidelined the horse for “almost a year and a half,” following surgery, said Grams.

He was a sprinter until winning at nine furlongs in the West Virginia Breeders’ Classic last October, then won the Charles Town Classic at a mile and an eighth.

“He took to the longer distance without a problem,” Grams said. “He can cruise in 47 seconds and change and still get the distance.”

Because Runnin’toluvya can be headstrong, Grams is bringing the horse’s personal pony with him to lead him to the starting gate.

After running the three fastest races of his career this year – two 91 Beyers and a career-best 100 Beyer – Grams wants to make sure his stable star is comfortable and happy because he isn’t sure he has reached his potential yet.

“I don’t know if he has,” he said. “He has done everything you can ask a horse to do. I don’t know if he is capable of doing better or not. He’s definitely training good. I think he’s at the top of his game but I don’t know if we have seen his career best yet. I guess we’ll to start to find out.

“It would be great if things work out and he wins this race. Even if he just runs a good race it gives us options down the road to where we can ship him if we want to.”

TWO-DAY WINE AND CHOCOLATE FESTIVAL STARTS SATURDAY

The popular Wine and Chocolate Festival, featuring nine chocolate vendors and six wineries, starts a two-day run at Monmouth Park on Saturday, June 22.

The event runs from 11:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. each down (wristband sales close at 4 p.m.) and includes an expanded dessert schedule. Unlimited wine sampling is $10 per day and includes a souvenir glass, with chocolate sampling only costing $7. A combined wristband is $16.

Saturday’s live musical entertainment will be by the band Pez head from noon to 4 p.m. “On the Green.”

First race post time Saturday is 12:50 p.m.