by Tim Nichols

Grade 1 winner Presious Passion returns to the scene of one of his greatest triumphs on Saturday when he tries for a repeat win the $750,000 United Nations Stakes (G1) at Monmouth Park.

The 1 3/8-mile turf race drew nine contenders and will serve as a Breeders’ Cup Challenge “Win and You’re In” series race for the Emirates Airline Breeders’ Cup Turf (G1) on November 7 at Santa Anita Park.

The Royal Anthem gelding won the 2008 edition of the United Nations Stakes at Monmouth by a neck in front-running style. Trained by Mary Hartmann for owner Patricia Generazio, the seven-year-old has won three stakes races on Monmouth’s turf course, including the Monmouth Stakes on June 13 in his most recent start.

Elvis Trujillo, who piloted Presious Passion to wins in the 2008 W. L. McKnight Handicap (G2) at Calder Race Course and this year’s Mac Diarmida (G2) and Monmouth Stakes, gets the return call on Saturday.

Among those slated to face Presious Passion on Saturday include Grade 1 winners Court Vision and Better Talk Now.

Hollywood Derby (G1) winner Court Vision enters off a fourth-place finish in the Woodford Reserve Manhattan Handicap (G1) at Belmont Park on June 6. The four-year-old Gulch colt will attempt to snap a four-race winless skid on Saturday.

Bushwood Stables’ veteran Better Talk Now enters off a third-place finish in the Manhattan for trainer Graham Motion. The ten-year-old, five-time Grade 1 winner will be making the 51st start of his career.

Other contenders include Grade 1 winner Brass Hat and graded stakes winners Strike a Deal, Spice Route (GB), Lauro (Ger), and Wesley.

Also on tap at Monmouth is the $250,000 Salvator Mile Handicap (G3) at one mile on the main track. The winner will earn a starting spot in the $1-million TVG Breeders’ Cup Dirt Mile (G1) on November 7 at Santa Anita as part of the Breeders’ Cup Challenge “Win and You’re In” series.

Multiple graded stakes winner Smooth Air will make his first start for trainer Chad Brown in the Salvator Mile after spending his entire career in Bennie Stutts Jr.’s barn.

Trainer Larry Jones’s Solar Flare (Arg) will gun for his first graded stakes win off a visually impressive nine-length romp in the Frisk Me Now Stakes on May 24 at Monmouth.

Etisalat Godolphin Mile (UAE-G2) winner Two Step Salsa, multiple Grade 3 winner Kiss the Kid, Argentine Group 1 winner Runforthedoe (Brz), stakes winners Coal Play and Keep Laughing, and trainer Todd Pletcher’s Grade 2-placed winner The Roundhouse round out the field.

Tim Nichols is internet content editor for THOROUGHBRED TIMES

Salvator Mile H.

For Equibase entires of Saturday's Monmouth card, click here.