United will stick to turf, points to Whittingham Stakes

United, the five-time graded stakes winner on turf, has been considered a potential starter in major dirt stakes by trainer Richard Mandella.

The idea remains one that will be considered, but is not likely to take place this spring, Mandella said Saturday shortly after United won his 2021 debut in the Grade 3 San Luis Rey Stakes at 1 1/2 miles on turf.

Mandella is pointing the 6-year-old United to the Grade 2 Charles Whittingham Stakes at 1 1/4 miles on turf on May 29 instead of the Grade 1 Hollywood Gold Cup at 1 1/4 miles on dirt two days later.

“The Whittingham is probably more likely,” Mandella said.

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In the $100,000 San Luis Rey Stakes, United stalked the pace to the turn and won by three-quarters of a length over Say the Word. United was given a 102 Beyer Speed Figure for the win.

The San Luis Rey Stakes was United’s first start since an eighth-place finish in the Breeders’ Cup Turf at Keeneland last November.

“I couldn’t be happier,” Mandella said.

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

United has never raced on dirt. He won a maiden special weight race at 1 1/16 miles on the synthetic track at Woodbine in July 2018 when trained by Roger Attfield. United was fifth in an allowance race on the synthetic surface at Woodbine later that month, his only other start away from turf.