Big weekend cards for Monmouth, Parx, Finger Lakes

There are big races planned at Monmouth Park, Parx Racing, and Finger Lakes over the holiday weekend.

Monmouth is scheduled to run four stakes, topped by the Grade 1, $500,000 United Nations Stakes on Sunday. The United Nations, a 1 3/8-mile turf race, is a Win and You’re In race for the Breeders’ Cup Turf on Oct. 31 at Keeneland.

Parx will run its first graded stakes of the year, the Grade 3 Dr. James Penny Memorial Handicap, on Saturday. The $200,000 Dr. James Penny is a 1 1/16-mile turf race for fillies and mares.

Finger Lakes has the $150,000-estimated New York Derby and the $75,000 New York Oaks for statebreds on Friday. The New York Derby is the second-biggest race of the Finger Lakes season behind the $200,000-estimated New York Breeders’ Futurity in October.

The United Nations is expected to attract double Eclipse Award winner Main Sequence, who won his U.S. debut in last year’s United Nations for trainer Graham Motion. Main Sequence went on to score victories in the Sword Dancer at Saratoga, the Joe Hirsch Turf Classic at Belmont Park, and the Breeders’ Cup Turf at Santa Anita. He was honored as champion turf horse and champion older male following his undefeated campaign.

The United Nations card will be streamed live on DRF.com. The United Nations also will be televised on Fox Sports 1 as part of the Jockey Club on Fox series.

In addition to the United Nations, Monmouth will run the Grade 3, $150,000 Molly Pitcher on Friday, the $75,000 Elkwood Stakes on Saturday, and the Grade 3, $150,000 Salvator Mile on Sunday.