United

United picked up a victory in his second career start while racing in Canada. He was transferred to the Southern California barn of Hall of Famer Richard Mandella for his 4-year-old season.

The Giant’s Causeway gelding raced exclusively on the turf in 2019, winning his second start of the year by a length and then two starts later finishing second in the Grade 2 Charles Whittingham Stakes May 25 at Santa Anita Park. After an allowance win July 17 at Del Mar, United finished third in the Grade 2 John Henry Turf Championship Stakes at Santa Anita Park in his prep race for the 2019 Breeders’ Cup World Championships.

United used a terrific stalking trip to take the lead in early stretch of the Longines Turf Nov. 2 at Santa Anita Park but he could not hold off the late charge of Bricks and Mortar and finished second by a head. He closed his season with another runner-up finish, coming up a neck short in the Grade 2 Hollywood Turf Cup Stakes Dec. 1 at Del Mar.

In his 5-year-old debut, United recorded an elusive first graded stakes win when he rallied to a half-length win in the Grade 2 San Marcos Stakes Feb. 1 at Santa Anita Park. He followed with a determined and hard-fought win over Rockemperor and Originaire in the Grade 2 Charles Whitingham Stakes May 23 at Santa Anita, and then extended his 2020 winning streak to three by taking the July 26 Grade 2 Eddie Read Stakes at Del Mar by a half-length over Sharp Samurai. United suffered his first loss of 2020 when he came up just short of Red King when second in the Grade 1 Del Mar Handicap Presented by The Japan Racing Association Aug. 22 at Del Mar.