United Nations attracts nine

Presious Passion has stamped himself as one of the gamest horses around (Bill Denver/Equi-Photo) Defending champion PRESIOUS PASSION (Royal Anthem) and 2005 winner BETTER TALK NOW (Talkin Man) will be joined by Grade 1 winners COURT VISION (Gulch) and BRASS HAT (Prized) in Saturday’s $750,000 United Nations S. (G1). Won by notables such as English Channel (twice), Manila (twice), Round Table (twice) and Dr. Fager, the 1 3/8-mile turf affair serves as a staple on the Independence Day program at Monmouth Park and will feature nine runners in the 56th edition. One race earlier, the New Jersey track will offer the $250,000 Salvator Mile H. (G3) on the main track. Multiple Grade 2 winner SMOOTH AIR (Smooth Jazz), a strong second in the Metropolitan H. (G1) most recently, is the top draw in the eight-horse field. The Salvator Mile and United Nations are the first two Breeders’ Cup “Win and You’re In” races in North America.

Presious Passion recorded a front-running upset at nearly 14-1 in last year’s
United Nations, and the Mary Hartman-trained gelding tuned up for his repeat bid
with a game nose score in the June 13 Monmouth S. Elvis Trujillo, who has guided
the six-year-old to victories in the Mac Diarmida S. (G2) and W.L. McKnight H.
(G2) since picking up the mount five starts back, will return to the saddle.
Better Talk Now owns a ton of back class, winning the 2004 Breeders’ Cup Turf
(G1) as well as four other Grade 1 events from 2004-07, but the 10-year-old
gelding had appeared to lose a step when recording three straight unplaced
finishes prior to the Manhattan H. (G1) last out. The veteran Graham Motion
pupil found his best stride in the stretch at Belmont, closing rapidly for
third-place honors, and has run well previously over Monmouth’s turf. Jeremy
Rose will guide him.

Court Vision is a top contender for Bill Mott. Winner of the Hollywood Derby
(G1) in late November, the four-year-old colt hasn’t won this year in four
starts, but he’s given a solid account of himself with thirds in the Woodford
Reserve Turf Classic (G1) and Gulfstream Park Turf H. (G2) and claimed fourth in
the Manhattan. Garrett Gomez will pick up the mount on the talented dark bay.
Brass Hat exits an encouraging score in the Louisville H. (G3), defeating United
Nations entrant and Grade 2 victor SPICE ROUTE (GB) (King’s Best) by a
half-length with a strong finish, and the Buff Bradley-trained gelding
registered a 119 BRIS Late Pace rating while snapping a 10-race losing skein.
Stewart Elliott will pick up the mount.

Grade 2 winners WESLEY (El Prado [Ire]), STRIKE A DEAL (Smart Strike) and
LAURO (Ger) (Monsun) are also entered, and Monmouth runner-up BANROCK (Go for
Gin) rounds out the line-up.

Smooth Air will make his first start for new trainer Chad Brown in the
Salvator Mile, and the four-year-old colt will keep Pascacio Lopez in the
saddle. The four-time stakes winner isn’t the lone millionaire in the field,
with TWO STEP SALSA (Petionville) also wracking up a seven-figure bankroll.
Winner of the Godolphin Mile S. (UAE-G2) two back, Two Step Salsa was sold to
Godolphin and transferred to Saeed bin Suroor following a third in the Breeders’
Cup Dirt Mile last October. The four-year-old colt will stretch out to a more
favorable eight-furlong distance following a fourth in the six-furlong True
North H. (G2).

Grade 3 winner KISS THE KID (Lemon Drop Kid) and Haskell Invitational (G1)
runner-up COAL PLAY (Mineshaft) are also entered.