United bounces back with San Luis Rey triumph

At this time last year, United was briefly in the United Arab Emirates for an intended start in the Group 1 Dubai Turf, a race eventually cancelled because of the coronavirus pandemic.

This year, United is not leaving the United States. The 6-year-old gelding was up to familiar habits in Saturday’s Grade 3 San Luis Rey Stakes at Santa Anita, winning his fourth stakes on the track’s turf course.

Ridden confidently by the red-hot Flavien Prat, United ($3.80) stalked pacesetter Acclimate to early stretch and won by three-quarters of a length over 4-1 Say the Word, finishing 1 1/2 miles in 2:25.51. United earned a Beyer Speed Figure of 102.

United was Prat’s fourth winner on a day in which he won five of nine races on the program.

:: Bet horse racing on DRF Bets. Double Your First Deposit Up to $250. Join Now.

The $100,000 San Luis Rey Stakes was United’s first start since an eighth-place finish in a field of 10 in the Breeders’ Cup Turf at Keeneland last November.

Prat said United was racing well within himself while chasing Acclimate through a pace of 24.29 seconds for the opening quarter-mile and 47.18 for a half-mile.

“He likes to be in the race,” Prat said.

Racing outside of Acclimate, United led by 1 1/2 lengths with a furlong remaining. The San Luis Rey Stakes was United’s first stakes win at 1 1/2 miles, although he was second by a head at 51-1 to eventual Horse of the Year Bricks and Mortar in the 2019 BC Turf at Santa Anita.

United’s previous stakes wins were at distances ranging from 1 1/8 miles to 1 1/4 miles. Prat has been aboard United for all five of the gelding’s stakes win.

“After a long layoff, you never know going 1 1/2 miles,” Prat said. “He got a good trip. I was traveling well. He responded well when I asked him to go.”

Say the Word, the winner of the Grade 1 Northern Dancer Stakes at Woodbine last October, finished a length in front of 2-1 Masteroffoxhounds, the winner of the Grade 2 San Marcos Stakes at 1 1/4 miles on turf over Acclimate on Feb. 6.

Acclimate faded to finish fourth in the San Luis Rey Stakes, well clear of Multiplier in the small field of five.

Owned by the LNJ Foxwoods stable of Larry, Nancy and Jaime Roth and trained by Richard Mandella, United has won 8 of 18 starts and earned $1,513,549.