Teaks North engaged favored Stacelita in a stretch duel and held off a late run from Chinchon to win the $750,000 United Nations Stakes (gr. I) by three-quarters of a length.
Under Eddie Castro, the colt settled off of the early pace set by Pulsion, who sprinted away to a sizable early lead. Racing rank in second was Sleepless Knight, followed by Bourbon Bay. Stacelita was toward the rear of the pack, with Chinchon trailing the field, nearing twenty lengths behind Pulsion early on.
Entering the homestretch for the first time Pulsion slowed the pace down, going from a quick :23 3/5 opening quarter to a slow :48 2/5 for the half-mile. He continued to slow the pace through three-quarters in 1:14 4/5.
Suddenly he had company. Sleepless Knight drew up on the outside, and suddenly Stacelita was on top of him. Stacelita had made a bold run past a number of horses and took over the lead under no urging from jockey Joe Bravo as the field rounded the final turn. Bravo took a look back turning for home, then asked his filly for run. Entering the final stretch, the French mare appeared to be on her way to becoming the first filly or mare to win the United Nations.
But Teaks North was charging up on the outside, and gained the lead inside the final sixteenth. Chinchon was rallying furiously, and Stacelita was game, but Teaks North held on for a three-quarter length victory. He ran the mile and three-eighths race in 2:13 1/5.
Chinchon edged out Stacelita for second, while Bourbon Bay came home fourth.
-Keelerman
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