The United Nations Stakes (Grade 2)- $600.000 Purse
MTH- For Three Year Olds and Upward
One Mile and Three Eighths on the Turf
July 20, 2024

The United Nations Stakes boasted an impressive field, and the biggest names in the race did not let us down. Amongst those stars in the game, there was one with a little bigger resume than the rest of them, and that would be King Que Niagra. After an incredible 2023, plus having won this race in the past, there was a lot to like about him. He was among our picks, and those we did pick in the top four did indeed finish in those positions. That said, it wasn’t exactly difficult to think they were the four top choices. King Que Niagra is trained by D J C Racing Stables, and for each of them, it is their second win in the race. J R Velazquez wins for the third time (he was not King Que Niagra’s jockey in 2022). Congratulations to the connections! The time of the win was 2:11.27, which is the third quickest in the history of the race. Let’s take a look at it now:

(½ Mile- :48.16)- King Que Niagra wastes no time getting out in front, and the eventual winner out of D J C Racing Stables hold a half-length advantage around the opening turn. Making sure he does not get away is Killer Instinct, who runs to his inside for Mb Stables. Fanatical Empire in the third spot for Smokey Stover, stalking the top two while running in the third lane. Jakarta (Nakamura Stables) and Life Is Beautiful (Riggins Racing) are a length back, and then we have a large gap back to the trailers, Storm Cloud (Mo Mentum Farm) and Dark Arts (D J C Racing Stables).

(3/4 Mile- 1:12.00)- Moving around the second turn and into the backstretch, King Que Niagra looks comfortable and continues to show the way around the track. Killer Instinct is now a full length behind him in second, and it is a similar to distance to Fanatical Empire, who has been able to move closer to the rail. Jakarta and Life Is Beautiful are next and still run side by side, and you have to wonder if Storm Cloud and Dark Arts have already been left behind.

(Top of Stretch, 1.5F To Go)- The backstretch would not see much activity, except for Fanatical Empire moving back to the third lane in hopes of making a move on the leader. Such a run would never materialize, and the by the time they reached the top of the stretch, King Que Niagra continued to be in control of this race. Killer Instinct was not going anywhere and was still within a length and would have the benefit of staying on the rail. Life Is Beautiful and Jakarta maintained their gap to the leaders, but it was time to show a little more. Further back, Storm Cloud was showing more ambition than Dark Arts, though each of them had a lot of ground to still make up.

(Finish- 2:11.27)- In the stretch, King Que Niagra had plenty left to maintain his steady stride all the way to the wire. He did not put any more distance on his opponents, but he didn’t need to as he had already worn them out. Killer Instinct was second the whole way and will settle for completing the exacta. Life Is Beautiful made a very late pass of Fanatical Empire to take third, with Jakarta fifth. Storm Cloud and Dark Arts were no shows today.

About The Winner- King Que Niagra, trained by D J C Racing Stables, and ridden to victory by J R Velazquez, is a seven-year-old gelding by Que Niagra and is out of Catch A Little. He was bred in California by Jediminds Stable as a second quarter two-year-old, and was acquired by D J C Racing Stables, via Aer Stables, for $20.000 in private sales back in April 2020. Congratulations to the connections! The win is his fifteenth in 45 starts, his 13th stake win and 12th graded win. His career earnings are now $6,830.600.

Track: Firm
Time: :48  1:12  1:35³  2:11¹

$2 Mutuel Prices:

$1 Exacta: 7 – 5 Paid 8.10
$1 Trifecta: 7 – 5 – 3 Paid 78.40

Scratched: None

— NS

Categories: Grade II, STAKES ARTICLES