The United Nations Stakes – Grade I
1 3/8 Mile Turf Stake Purse $500.000 Open 3 Year Olds And Up.

1st        Anoush Command       Fractious       Davis D

There were a few things about this race that surprised me but this one leading all the way off a soft pace was not one of them. He has been tough and game all year but didn’t need to call on those abilities here. Today the rest of the field let him go to the front and left him there while they all worried about getting into a stalk or mid-pack position and they ultimately paid the price. Bowling along happily he was never challenged and won as he liked for a really well deserved win. I doubt he will get it that easy in the BC but this win will send him there and one thing is for sure he will be a very tough nut to crack.

2nd        Iron Nation     Nakamura Stables          Pereira T J

He needs a really slow pace to keep up early and though the pace here broke no records he still could only follow the leader at a distance that was to prove too much to really dent. At least he was close enough to battle on for second unlike some who fell way back and had no chance. A BC Mile and WO Mile winner he continues to run well at the top level and i am sure will renew rivalry with the winner again.

3rd    Controlled Power      Spankys Barn           Prat F

It was great to see this seven year old run so well, in fact this was a really good effort considering he was a long way back and was one of the few to make ground from the back with any significance. He certainly seems to have found a new lease of life and with a bit of luck may get another go at the BC Turf.

4th        Immookielee        Smokey Stover        Gaffalione T

Kept on for a distant fourth which considering that the three year olds don’t seem to be as effective this year was not a bad effort.

Footnote:

I cannot finish this review without mentioning the run of Billy Joel. Drawn wide, which he has overcome before, he was three wide in the first corner but had found his customary stalk. It all looked to be going well as the leader steadied the pace and he was one off in the stalk but for some reason that we can only speculate he then fell away like a $10 claimer to finish a well beaten eighth. The only two other times he has run like this were both on off tracks but in every other race he has either won or been beaten less than a length. So was there some mysterious moisture in the track off the rail? Was he instructed differently? Or perhaps it was something else, everyone will have their theories but this run remains a mystery to this writer.

Categories: STAKES ARTICLES