Tribhuvan Easily Wires United Nations

OCEANPORT, NJ – Trainer Chad Brown threw three darts at the proverbial board for Saturday’s $500,000 United Nations Stakes (G1) at Monmouth Park, hoping that one would stick, and that it did.

Favored at 8/5, Tribhuvan shot out to a tremendous early lead and had more than enough left in the tank to stave off all competitors, taking the 1 3/8-mile firm turf route by 2 lengths in 2:15.48.

“He broke well and got me in the race,” Prat said. “I was surprised I was alone because I didn’t feel like I was going that fast, and he really came back to me nice along the backside, and I took a nice breather. It was a good breather. The race went really well when I asked him to make his move. I kind of sent him out there because I didn’t want to be too wide, so I ended up on the lead. My only concern from that point was getting him back into a nice rhythm and without losing too much energy, so that’s what I did. It worked out well. I had a lot of horse under me and he was really traveling well.”

Tribhuvan was bred in France, where he spent his first racing season at age 3 compiling a 7-2-1-0 record before being privately purchased by Michael Dubb, Madaket Stables, Wonder Stables, and Michael Caruso. He won his third start stateside, a 1 1/16-mile optional claimer over Belmont Park’s outer turf on July 4, 2020, but the son of Toronado didn’t return until the Fort Marcy Stakes (G2) at Belmont Park on May 1.

In his first start as a gelding, Tribhuvan went gate to wire to win the Fort Marcy by 1 1/2 lengths, then nearly did the same in the 1 1/4-mile Manhattan Stakes (G1) at Belmont Park last time out. The winner, stablemate Domestic Spending, is considered the best turf horse in America.

Imperador, Epic Bromance, Serve the King, Glynn County, Arklow (the 2/1 second choice), Winters Back, Fantasioso, Master Piece, and Oceans Map completed the order of finish.

“The way he ran was the strategy,” said Brown assistant Luis Cabrerra. “That’s the way he ran in the Manhattan in his last start. He was just second-best to Domestic Spending, so we wanted to do the same thing this race. This horse has been training well. We’ve had him for a week at Monmouth Park and he has really taken to this place.”

Tribhuvan returned $5.40 to win, $4.20 to place, and $3.60 to show. Imperador brought back $14.40 to place and $9.20 to show. Epic Bromance paid $13.60 to show.