Unified Goes for Grade I in Carter

Unified (inside) | Kenny Martin

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Flashy 'TDN Rising Star' Unified (Candy Ride {Arg}) seeks his first win at the highest level in Saturday's GI Carter H. at Aqueduct. The Centennial Farms colorbearer bested King Kranz (Munnings) by three lengths in the GIII Bay Shore S. over track and trip and on the 2016 version of this card before stretching out successfully to take Belmont's GII Peter Pan S. in May. He was a puzzling fifth at 3-10 in Monmouth's GIII Pegasus S. June 19, but returned to winning way back at an abbreviated trip when holding on by a neck from Mind Your Biscuits (Posse) in the GIII Gulfstream Park Sprint S. Feb. 25. That runner flattered Unified, of course, when he headed to Meydan for a smashing score in the G1 Dubai Golden Shaheen a couple of weeks ago. Tommy Macho (Macho Uno) is one-for-one in Ozone park with a clear victory in the nine-panel GIII Discovery H. in 2015, but his best races have come around one turn like today's. He looked to be in deep water after stumbling turning for home in Gulfstream's GIII Hal's Hope S. Jan. 14, but rallied resolutely to air by 5 3/4 lengths, good for a 105 Beyer and -3 Thoro-Graph–both faster than Unified's top. Tommy Macho settled for third behind G2 Godolphin Mile show horse Sharp Azteca (Freud) in the GII Gulfstream Park H. Feb. 11, but Hal's Hope runner-up Bird Song (Unbridled's Song) was a convincing winner of the GIII Fred Hooper S. last month. Spartiatis (Scat Daddy) looks to continue his ascent up the class ladder–he snapped a four-race losing streak in a Jan. 21 optional claimer in which he was dangled for a $62,500 tag, and defeated four returning rivals in the GIII Tom Fool H. last out Mar. 11.

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