United Nations Stakes 2011- Chinchon defends title against Teaks North and Sleepless Knight
Monmouth Park hosts United Nations Stakes. Formerly known as the United Nations Handicap, the Grade 1 event is open to horses aged three and above. It has a purse of about $750,000 and is run over a distance of 11 furlongs.
United Nations Stakes is catering to ten contestants this time. A horse winning in the United Nations Stakes earns himself a ticket to the $3 million Breeders’ Cup Turf Championship at Churchill Downs. This may be one of the reasons why the United Nations
Stakes has a star studded line-up.
They come from various back grounds, creating an intriguing mix of horses bred in Ireland, Chile, and, France. And there is a sensation from New Jersey, General Perfect.
One of the contenders is last year’s winner, Chinchon. The Darpat S. L. Stables owned six-year old has made his way to five different countries and now will be participating in the United Nations Stakes to defend his title in the United Nations Stakes.
The unplaced in four starts is to face rivalry from Teaks North and Sleepless Knight. Both managed to get top positions in the preps for the United Nations Stakes.
In the Monmouth Stakes, Teaks North got hold of first position, the race was held on June 12, 2011. Sleepless Knight was runner-up to Teaks North in the Monmouth Stakes. Also in the Grade 1 Gulfstream Park Turf Handicap held on February 5, 2011 Teaks North
was victorious.
These wins illustrate how Teaks North adapted to the turf surface and could pose a possible threat to Chinchon in the United Nations Stakes. United Nations Stakes is also a turf premiere event.
Teaks North is trained by Justin Sallusto, who is of the view that the United Nations Stakes is going to be a close match between Teaks North and Bourbon Bay. About the other horses, Sallusto said, “That’s the way it looks on paper to me, the foreign horses
don’t look like they’re in form”.
Bourbon Bay, the Neil D. Drysdale trained five-year old bay colt is a candidate that need not be undermined. He has four graded stakes to his claim in California. He was also third in his most recent start at Hollywood Park in the Grade 1 Charlie Whittingham
Memorial Handicap, held on June 11, 2011. Who knows he might be able to pull off a win in the United Nations Stakes?
It is noteworthy to mention that Chinchon is not the only foreign runner in the United Nations Stakes. There is another French native, Stacelita, a five-year old mare making her way to the United Nations Stakes. Stacelita happens to be a three time Group
1 winner. She receives conditioning from Jean-Claude Rouget and was third in the Group 3 stakes at Longchamp last month.
Chile is also represented by a five-year old mare, Belle Watling, who is regarded as a huge success in her native country. She is saddled by Patrick L. Biancone.
Biancone commented on the mare’s condition by saying:
“She’s training very well. She’s been here six months, and it takes that long to acclimatize. She’s changed dramatically in the last two weeks. Now, she has to perform and live up to her reputation”.
The United Nations Stakes is the first race on the twelve race card, which is to take place on July, 3, 2011. May the best horse win.
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