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Bravo Rides $62,500 Claim Aquaphobia To United Nations Upset

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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Elkhorn Winner Zulu Alpha Will Defend His Title In Kentucky Downs’ Turf Cup

Zulu Alpha continues to make a case as America's best turf horse at 1 1/2 miles, his three wins in four starts including the Grade 1 Pegasus World Cup Turf. Trainer Mike Maker brought the gelding into Sunday's G2 Elkhorn at Keeneland off a 3 1/2-month layoff. After getting squeezed at the start, Zulu Alpha found himself well off the slow pace set by Postulation but closed strongly under Tyler Gaffalione to win by three-quarters of a length.

His next start will be defense of his 2019 victory in the Kentucky Turf Cup at Kentucky Downs, followed by the Breeders' Cup Turf on Nov. 7 at Keeneland, a race in which Zulu Alpha finished fourth last year at Santa Anita.

“He's had his vacation and Mike's handled him phenomenally as far as his development and progression,” said owner Michael Hui. “This was the first step back, and he passed.”

The owner said not to forget Parlor, an $80,000 claim in March who finished second in the Grade 1 Maker's Mark Mile.

“You were about two inches from a Grade 1,” Hui said. “That was a tremendous high watching Parlor take the lead in the stretch…. It was like 'no, no, no!' And Parlor got the perfect bob and still didn't get it. But that bodes well for Kentucky Downs, because his next start will be the Tourist Mile.”

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Canterbury Park Turf Festival Offers $350,000 In Purses On Wednesday

Canterbury Park will run the $100,000 Mystic Lake Derby for the ninth time on Wednesday as the richest race of the Canterbury Park Turf Festival which includes four additional turf stakes and four undercard dirt races. Trainer Michael Maker will attempt to win the one mile turf Derby for the third consecutive time. A top-five trainer nationally in both wins and purse earnings, Maker ships in Angelus Warrior from Kentucky. The 3-year-old colt has won two of six career starts, all on the turf. Angelus Warrior is the 9 to 5 morning line favorite in the seven-horse field.

Maker also saddles Ask Bailey in the $50,000 Northbound Pride Oaks and 5 to 2 morning line favorite Temple in the $75,000 Mystic Lake Mile. Florent Geroux, sixth nationally amongst jockeys in purse earnings, is named to ride all of Maker's entries.

The Mystic Lake Derby, the fifth race on the program, begins the 50 cent Pick 5 wager with an industry low 10 percent takeout. With no stakes racing at other racetracks across the country Wednesday evening, Canterbury officials expect wagering to be robust. Through 16 days of racing, the Pick 5 pool has averaged $85,232 in handle with an average payout of $21,005. On July 1 a track record $85,340 was paid to the winning ticket holder only to be surpassed the following evening when the Pick 5 returned $98,908. The wager requires the participant to select in order the winners of five consecutive races, placing the bet before the first race in the series begins.

The 28th running of the Lady Canterbury Stakes, at one mile on the turf with a purse of $75,000, could include as many as 11 starters, the largest field of the night. Geroux has also secured the mount aboard the 5 to 2 morning line favorite Winning Envelope who is owned by Robert Lothenbach of Wayzata, Minn. and trained by Chris Block. The 4-year-old filly, whose running style usually positons her at the back of the field before advancing late, has won four of 16 career races. She has been stabled at Churchill Downs this spring and summer.

Beach Flower will defend her Lady Canterbury title from the second post position. Canterbury Hall of Fame trainer Mac Robertson has named Roimes Chirinos to ride. The 7-year-old mare won this race and the Minnesota HBPA Distaff, also a one mile turf race, last summer.

Wednesday's other stakes races are the $50,000 Northbound Pride Oaks, the $50,000 Honor the Hero Stakes and the $75,000 Mystic Lake Mile.

Racing continues Monday through Thursday at the Shakopee, Minn. racetrack with a 4:40 p.m. CDT first post each day.

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