United eyes Pacific Classic after Eddie Read win

DEL MAR, Calif. – United is looking for new worlds to conquer and, after the 5-year-old scored his third successive Grade 2 turf victory on Sunday at Del Mar, trainer Richard Mandella said he has found the ideal spot to aim for something ambitious.

“This horse is training so good on the dirt, month after month, I’m going to consider running him in the Pacific Classic,” Mandella said after United won the Eddie Read Stakes by a comfortable half-length over Sharp Samurai.

The Grade 1 TVG Pacific Classic is Aug. 22, and it would not be the first time Mandella has thrown a curveball into the biggest race of Del Mar's summer. Five years ago, after Beholder won the Grade 1 Clement L. Hirsch at Del Mar, Mandella announced he would run her back in the 2015 Pacific Classic. She won by more than eight lengths.

United would be making his first start on dirt in the Pacific Classic. As easily as he won the 1 1/8-mile Read, United would be a fresh horse going in.

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Flavien Prat put United on the flank of pacesetter Neptune’s Storm, inched outside into the lane while confidently ridden, made the lead in deep stretch, and won by a half-length in 1:46.71.

Sharp Samurai, who was expected to be forwardly placed, instead rallied from last to second. He finished a half-length in front of Neptune’s Storm. The order of finish was completed by Bowies Hero, Originaire and Cleopatra’s Strike.

The win by United was the first win of the summer meet for Mandella, who acknowledged frustration at the slow start. “I finally won a race,” a relieved Mandella said, “and I’ve run a lot of horses. Favorites, too.”

Mandella was 0-for-12 going into the Read, including four beaten favorites. All it took was the top turf horse on the circuit to turn things around. United paid $4.40.

The nine-furlong distance is shorter than United prefers, but Mandella said the distance specialist was fresh. “We ran him short just to pick his head up. Sometimes you run them long too many times, and they get stale.”

There is nothing stale about United, a 5-year-old gelding by Giant’s Causeway owned by LNJ Foxwoods. The win was his sixth from 14 starts, and third straight. He won the Charles Whittingham and San Marcos during the winter-spring meet at Santa Anita. Both races were at 1 1/4 miles on turf.

Later next month, United will return to 1 1/4 miles, but this time he will be racing on dirt for the first time.

“I’ve been thinking all summer about it,” Mandella said. “We’ll think about the Del Mar Handicap on turf, too …” The 1 3/8-mile Del Mar Handicap also is Aug. 22. Mandella has won the Pacific Classic four times.

If United runs in the Pacific Classic, jockey Prat faces a decision. He is the regular rider for 2019 Pacific Classic winner Higher Power, who finished third on Saturday in the San Diego Handicap.