United earns himself a shot in Sheema Classic

ARCADIA, Calif. – United won his first stakes in Saturday’s Grade 2 San Marcos at Santa Anita, a performance that has trainer Richard Mandella planning a trip to Dubai on March 28 for the $6 million Sheema Classic.

United has run well in recent world-class races, having finished second at 51-1 to eventual Horse of the Year Bricks and Mortar in the Breeders’ Cup Turf here in November. The BC Turf is run at 1 1/2 miles, the same distance as the Sheema Classic, which annually draws runners from Europe and Asia and horses based in Dubai through the winter.

United will need to be in peak form to play a meaningful role against such competition.

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Owned by Larry, Nancy, and Jaime Roth, United has won 4 of 12 starts and earned $1,013,549.

In the San Marcos at 1 1/4 miles on turf, United stalked the pace in fourth and rallied wide through the final furlong to win by a half-length over a fast-closing Cleopatra’s Strike. Through the final quarter-mile, United steadily made progress to reach the front in deep stretch under jockey Flavien Prat.

United won an optional claimer in a similar style at Del Mar last summer and ran well in the BC Turf when he led with a furlong remaining. He needs time to find his best stride, but is a stayer, Mandella said.

“He’s not like a little ballet dancer,” Mandella said. “He’s a big, old lumbering thing. You’ve got to keep it going.”