A crowd of 14,061 was on hand at Monmouth Park on Saturday for Breeders' Cup Challenge day, with two "Win and You're In" events on the card. The $750,000 United Nations Stakes (G1) featured a field of 8 older horses gooing 1 3/8 miles on the turf, looking for an automatic berth into the Breeders' Cup Turf on October 25. Champs Elysees, sixth in the Charlie Whittingham at Hollywood last time out, was sent off as the 11-10 favorite over 5-2 second choice Strike A Deal, exiting a fourth place finish in the Manhattan Handicap. Equitable, winner of an allowance event at Belmont last time out, was the 5-1 third choice.
Presious Passion went to the lead soon after the start and was loose on the lead by as much as 1 1/2 lengths while setting a slow pace of 24.44, 49.16, 1:14.31, and 1:38.76, saving ground along the rail the whole way. Ra De Dean stalked him in second, while favorite Champs Elysees was unhurried near the back of the field. Around the far turn, jockey Eddie Castro asked Presious Passion to accelerate as Strike A Deal, fifth early, was closing well on the outside. Strike A Deal gained on the pacesetter through the stretch, but Presious Passion was up to the challenge, holding him off in the final strides by a neck to get the win in 2:13.88 over the yielding turf course. It was another 1 1/4 lengths back to Equitable third, while favorite Champs Elysees came up empty when asked and could not improve his position, finishing sixth.
Results chart
