Michael Dubb's Therapist struck for his first win at the highest level Saturday when running down favorite Catnip to score in the $600,000 United Nations (G1) at Monmouth Park.
Under Javier Castellano, Therapist rated toward the back on the field early before uncoiling a sustained outside stretch rally and mowing down Catnip to get the victory by 1 1/2 lengths.
Therapist returned $26.60 after running 1 3/8 miles in 2.14.50 on firm turf.
Catnip, who took charge on the far turn after chasing early freewheeling pacesetter So High, a 55-1 longshot, from second, held for the runner-up spot. Therapist's 9-year-old stablemate Red Knight came on for third, three-quarters of a length behind Catnip
An 8-year-old Freud gelding trained by Mike Maker, Therapist notched his 13th win from 42 career starts.
Bred in New York by Richard Leahy's Oak Bluff Stables and Christophe Clement, Therapist was produced by the Smart Strike mare Lady Renaissance.
Maker won the 2020 United Nations with Aquaphobia and the 2017 edition with Bigger Picture while Dubb enjoyed a third consecutive victory in the race.
United Nations Quotes:
WINNING OWNER MICHAEL DUBB (won third United Nations and third year in a row): “I followed this horse throughout his career. I knew the ability he had and that's why I claimed him (for $50,000). When he got a little older they put him in claiming races so we tried to claim him for $25,000 and got outshook. When they put him back in for $50,000 I knew he was worth that and quite a bit more.
“This is Mike Maker's sweet spot. When we got him the horse hadn't been racing this long and I asked Mike why he wanted to go this long. He said, 'I see it in the breeding.'
“I wasn't here for the first two (Adhamo in 2022 and Tribhuvan in 2021). I never came here for the other two and got lucky so I came today. It's amazing to win this race three years in a row.”
WINNING JOCKEY – Javier Castellano: “He's a really good horse. I like the way he did it today. He's the kind of horse you can do whatever you want to do with him. He's a pro horse. Everything he does he does it the right way. I like this horse at this distance. He's a long-distance horse. He seems to always maintain his rhythm. I knew that horse on the lead (55-1 shot So High) was going to stop. I just rode my race. I knew he was going to come back to us. I didn't want to chase him and not have anything left. It's a long distance. You have to have a lot of patience and have a lot of confidence in the horse. It's amazing that he won a Grade 1 race at 8 years old. He's just a professional horse.”
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