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Woodbine Mile Day Prince of Wales Stakes Del Mar Futurity Del Mar Debutante Pacific Classic Day |
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 Chinchon and jockey Garrett Gomez head to the winner's circle with trainer Carlos Laffon-Parias at his side after the 2010 United Nations |
Date: 07/03/10
The first Grade 1 stakes race of the Monmouth Park summer meeting is the $750,000 United Nations Stakes (G1), which is part of the Breeders' Cup Challenge "Win and You're In" program, earning the winner an automatic berth into this year's Breeders' Cup Turf (G1) at Churchill Downs. A field of 9 older horses went 1 3/8 miles over the turf on Saturday afternoon before an official attendance of 13,783 (inflated due to the umbrella giveaway) enjoying sunny skies with temperatures in the upper 80's. Gulfstream Park Turf Handicap (G1) winner Take the Points was sent off as the 5-2 favorite off a fourth place finish in the Manhattan Handicap (G1) on the Belmont Stakes undercard. In to challenge him included 3-1 second choice Winchester, winner of the Manhattan last out, and 7-2 third choice Chinchon, winner of the Prix Exbury (G3) in March but fourth in the Grand Prix de Chantilly (G2) last out.
 Down the stretch with Chinchon closing on the outside |
6-1 Get Serious battled on the front end with 7-1 Acclamation through early fractions of 23.37, 47.62, 1:12.71, and 1:36.41 over the firm turf course. Jockey Edgar Prado kept favorite Take the Points back in 6th early, 5 1/2 lengths off the pace. Entering the stretch, Acclamation tired badly and faded to finish last, as Get Serious continued to lead to the 1/8 pole through 1 1/4 miles in 2:00.15. However, Chinchon, who was last and wide through all 3 turns, came out 5 wide for the drive to pass the entire field late, drawing away from late-running Take the Points in the final 1/16 to win by 1 1/2 lengths in a time of 2:11.77. It was another 1/2 a length back to Winchester third.
Pgm Horse Jockey Win Place Show 8 Chinchon Gomez 9.60 4.80 3.40 7 Take the Points Prado 3.80 2.80 5 Winchester Velasquez 2.80 Winning Time: 2:11.77 $2 Exacta 8-7 39.20 $1 Trifecta 8-7-5 56.10 $1 Superfecta 8-7-5-4 380.40 |
Left: Chinchon in the winner's circle. His trainer Carlos Laffon-Parias said, "I was pretty nervous halfway through the race with how slow the early pace was. I knew it would be tough for him to close. This horse doesn't care about the type of ground he's running on, he just runs. He doesn't like to be in between horses, though. Now we'll give him a break back home in Europe. After today, we'll keep the Breeders' Cup in mind. If we decide to go to the Breeders' Cup, we'll give him a prep in Europe."
Right: Chinchon returns after the race.
Left: Chinchon in the post parade.
Right: Chinchon in the walking ring before the race. His jockey Garrett Gomez said, "Everything worked out the way I wanted it to work out and the way he wanted me to ride him. I thought they would have gone faster up front, but the pace was very reasonable. After the break, I just eased him over to the fence and sat last most of the way. He was enjoying himself, being all alone in the back. I squeezed him a little at the 1/4 pole and started advancing up the inside because I didn't want to have to swing widest for the drive. Just after we turned for home, I took him to the outside and he really exploded. He flew home."
Left: Second place finisher and beaten favorite Take the Points in the post parade. His jockey Edgar Prado said, "He broke very sharply and I just sat him for the early part of the pace. He was running very easily, I was in great position, I was very happy. When I asked him for a little, he gave it to me every time. I thought I had it won in the stretch, but we just couldn't hold off the winner."
Right: Third place finisher Winchester in the post parade. The 3-1 second choice raced in 7th early 6 lengths off the pace under jockey Cornelio Velasquez, came out 3 wide for the drive and closed well to get third beaten 2 lengths at the line. The Christophe Clement trainee improved his record to 4 wins, 4 seconds, and 2 thirds in 17 starts, earning $727,898 for owner-breeder Bertram R. Firestone.
 The horses break from the gate for the Salvatore Mile |
Le Grand Cru and Munnings battled for the early lead for the first half mile through very slow fractions of 25.09 and 50.11, while 9-1 longest shot You and I Forever stalked them in third. Entering the stretch, the pacesetters tired badly, allowing You and I Forever to inherit the lead through 3/4 in 1:14.05. 7-1 Gone Astray, who was last for the first 5/8 mile, came out 3 wide for the drive to pass the tiring pacesetters at the 3/16 pole, drawing off late to win by 5 lengths in 1:38.02 over the fast main track. It was just a neck back from Duke of Mischief to You and I Forever third. Favorite Munnings finished last.
Pgm Horse Jockey Win Place Show 5 Gone Astray Velasquez 17.80 5.40 2.80 4 Duke of Mischief Coa 2.60 2.10 3 You and I Forever Lezcano 2.60 Winning Time: 1:38.02 $2 Exacta 5-4 48.40 $1 Trifecta 5-4-3 133.80 |
Left: Gone Astray returns after the race.
Right: Gone Astray in the winner's circle. Buzz Tenney, assistant to trainer Shug McGaughey said, "Our horse is usually near the back before he comes running. Cornelio had a lot of horse under him. We'll keep the Breeders' Cup in the back of our mind. After this, I'm sure Shug will find something for him going two turns at Saratoga."
Left: Gone Astray in the walking ring before the race. His jockey Cornelio Velasquez said," The pace was so slow, but I was never worried. On the far turn, (Le Grand Cru) and (Munnings) dropped out of it, so I had to swing my horse to the outside. He had so much run I never had a question."
Right: Second place finisher Duke of Mischief heads out of the paddock before the race. The 3-1 second choice raced in fourth just 2 lengths off the pace early under regular rider Eibar Coa, then passed the tiring pacesetters at the top of the stretch but was no match for the winner, finishing 2nd beaten 5 lengths. The David Fawkes trainee improved his record to 5 wins, 2 seconds, and 0 thirds in 14 starts, earning $730,642 for owners Alex and Joann Lieblong, M. McMaster, and Fawkes Racing Inc.
Left: Third place finisher You and I Forever in the paddock before the race. The 9-1 longest shot raced in 3rd up close to the pace early under new jockey Jose Lezcano, briefly gained a short lead at the 1/4 pole, but tired late to finish third beaten 5 1/4 lengths. The Thomas Bush trainee improved his record to 4 wins, 4 seconds, and 3 thirds in 19 starts, earning $462,984 for owner Jafar Abdullah Algahtani.
Right: Last place finisher and beaten favorite Munnings in the paddock before the race. His jockey Garrett Gomez said, "He just had no pop. I sat right off (Le Grand Cru) along the inside, and we had plenty of room. When I asked him to give me a little more (on the turn), he didn't have anything left. Through the lane he just kind of bounced up and down, but didn't have any run."
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