Aquaphobia engineered a $23.40 upset of Saturday's Grade 1 United Nations Stakes at Monmouth Park in Oceanport, N.J., coming from just off the pace to defeat Australian-bred pacesetter Paret by one length. Corelli finished third, with 13-10 favorite Arklow fourth in the field nine older turf runners going 1 3/8 miles.
Time for the race on a firm course was 2:12.63 after Paret (like the winner, sent away at odds of 10-1) set fractions of :24.50, :48.90, 1:14.41, 1:38.48 and 2:01.25.
A 7-year-old son of Giant's Causeway, Aquaphobia was winning for the ninth time in 36 starts. The United Nations was his first graded stakes victory. Out of the Real Quiet mare Pussycat Doll, Aquaphobia was bred in Kentucky by Mr. and Mrs. M Roy Jackson.
Aquaphobia is trained by Michael Maker, who claimed the horse for $62,500 at Gulfstream Park Jan. 26 from Drawing Away Stable and trainer Robert Falcone Jr. Aquaphobia earned the $180,000 winner's share of the $300,000 United Nations purse for owners Paradise Farms Corp, David Staudacher, Hooties Racing and Skychai Racing.
“Joe Bravo rode him beautifully,” said Maker. “We had a lot of confidence in the horse coming in and he didn't let us down. He's run a mile and quarter in the past and he was successful but he hasn't had the opportunity to go that long or longer again. We felt this horse was better than we were getting out of him.
“I think the distance was the reason,” said Maker. “He'd been training dynamite so I was optimistic. Coming out of his last race, the Grade 2 Wise Dan (when fourth), I thought that was a good race. He was beaten less than two lengths. So it looked like he was getting back to where we think he can be. He's a classy, sound horse who makes it easy.”
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