Mandella has United ready for San Luis Rey

ARCADIA, Calif. – The only horse to win four graded stakes last year in California returns from winter break on Saturday as the top distance grass runner on the West Coast.

But whether United maintains turf dominance depends on the direction of his 2021 campaign that begins Saturday in the Grade 3 San Luis Rey Stakes at Santa Anita. While the 1 1/2-mile race is on familiar ground, plans call for United to take a shot this year on dirt.

“We’ve got to get him back going as good as last year before we think about that,” trainer Richard Mandella cautioned this week. “We’ll get a couple races, and see what happens.”

The first step is the San Luis Rey in which United, unraced since November, faces four racing-fit graded winners – likely pacesetter Acclimate, improving Masteroffoxhounds, late-runner Say the Word, and longshot Multiplier.

United is the class of the field, having won four Grade 2 turf races in 2020 after emerging as a top turf horse in late 2019, finishing second in the Breeders’ Cup Turf at Santa Anita and Hollywood Turf Cup at Santa Anita.

The $100,000 San Luis Rey is the first start for United since he finished eighth in the Breeders’ Cup Turf at Keeneland. He never really had a chance.

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“He took a couple bad steps like he’d lost his footing, and just never recovered,” Mandella said.

After winning 4 of 6 in 2020, United had done enough for one year and received a break. Though the San Luis Rey is his first start in four months, United is ready to fire after stamina-building workouts the past two Saturdays – 1 1/8 miles and a mile. Mandella is optimistic about his chances.

“I expect he’d run a big race,” the trainer said. “It is a mile and a half, so it’s possible he could need a race. But I don’t think so.”

United’s tactical speed should allow jockey Flavien Prat to position United in second, behind Acclimate, and get first run. United’s even-paced style is characteristic of a dirt horse, rather than a blast-home turf runner. His running style and positive dirt workouts are reasons Mandella considers dirt as a viable option.

Owned by LNJ Foxwoods, United has won seven races and $1,453,549 from 17 starts.

Acclimate is the one to catch in the San Luis Rey. He set the pace and got collared by Masteroffoxhounds last out in the Grade 2 San Marcos at 1 1/4 miles, but trainer Phil D’Amato still believes 1 1/2 miles is within reach for Acclimate.

“I don’t see it as a problem, he won the San Juan Capistrano at a mile and three-quarters” in 2019, D’Amato said. “And I think Tyler [Baze] learned a little something about him last time. He’s training as good as he’s ever trained.”

Baze is the right jockey, having won the San Luis Rey five times since 2008. Acclimate has won six races and $438,872 from 21 starts, and will lead the field as far as he can. If he falters, D’Amato has come-from-behind backup with Say the Word.

Say the Word won the Grade 1 Northern Dancer in October at Woodbine and finished a fast-closing third in the Grade 2 Hollywood Turf Cup at Del Mar in his California debut in November. He misfired last out in the Grade 1 Pegasus Turf Invitational at Gulfstream Park, with an alibi.

“He was literally five wide the whole race,” D’Amato said. “He made a big early move and flattened out. He’s a horse that needs to be covered up and come with his big run like he did at Del Mar.”

Mike Smith rides Say the Word, who has won five races and $469,292 from 27 starts.

Masteroffoxhounds was purchased privately in Europe last year after winning 1 of 6 starts. He is by War Front and produced by Outstanding, sibling to 2013 Breeders’ Cup Turf winner Magician.

“The hope was if he could run like his pedigree, we’ll have a really nice horse,” trainer Richard Baltas said. Owned by Rockingham Ranch, Masteroffoxhounds finished last in his U.S. debut at one mile, after which Baltas switched exercise rider and jockey, changed equipment, and stretched him to a marathon.

He won an entry-level allowance at 1 3/8 miles, followed by the San Marcos in which he defeated Acclimate. Umberto Rispoli rides Masteroffoxhounds.

Multiplier, claimed for $50,000 two starts back, is a back-class graded winner likely to start as the longest shot in the five-runner field.

Three other San Luis Rey nominees opted for a starter allowance, race 5. Those include 2020 San Luis Rey winner Ward ’n Jerry, Grade 2 winner Oscar Dominguez, and California-bred stakes winner Irish Heatwave.