United

United picked up a victory in his second career start while racing in Canada. He was transferred to the Southern California barn of Hall of Famer Richard Mandella for his 4-year-old season.

The Giant’s Causeway gelding raced exclusively on the turf in 2019, winning his second start of the year by a length and then two starts later finishing second in the Grade 2 Charles Whittingham Stakes May 25 at Santa Anita Park. After an allowance win July 17 at Del Mar, United finished third in the Grade 2 John Henry Turf Championship Stakes at Santa Anita Park in his prep race for the 2019 Breeders’ Cup World Championships.

United used a terrific stalking trip to take the lead in early stretch of the Longines Turf Nov. 2 at Santa Anita Park but he could not hold off the late charge of Bricks and Mortar and finished second by a head. He closed his season with another runner-up finish, coming up a neck short in the Grade 2 Hollywood Turf Cup Stakes Dec. 1 at Del Mar.

In his 5-year-old debut, United recorded an elusive first graded stakes win when he rallied to a half-length win in the Grade 2 San Marcos Stakes Feb. 1 at Santa Anita Park. He followed with a determined and hard-fought win over Rockemperor and Originaire in the Grade 2 Charles Whitingham Stakes May 23 at Santa Anita, and then extended his 2020 winning streak to three by taking the July 26 Grade 2 Eddie Read Stakes at Del Mar by a half-length over Sharp Samurai. United suffered his first loss of 2020 when he came up just short of Red King when second in the Grade 1 Del Mar Handicap Presented by The Japan Racing Association Aug. 22 at Del Mar.

United regained his winning for in his final prep race for the Longines Breeders' Cup Turf when he led from start to finish in a dominant victory in the Grade 2 John Henry Turf Championship Stakes at Santa Anita Park. He turned in a dull effort at Keeneland in the Breeders' Cup Turf, finishing eighth of 10.

Returning from a layoff of 4 1/2 months in the Grade 3 San Luis Rey Stakes, United stalked pacesetter Acclimate for second, took command entering the stretch, and powered to victory March 20 at Santa Anita Park. He earned his second graded stakes win of the year on July 24 at Del Mar. Under a strong ride from Flavien Prat, United surged down the stretch and got up late to win the Grade 2 Eddie Read Stakes for the second year in a row. 

In his next start, United sought another stakes repeat in the Grade 2 John Henry Turf Championship Stakes at Santa Anita on Oct. 2. He once again showed heart in the stretch, as he held off a host of challenges to win that race for the second consecutive year.