Therapist Schools Rivals in United Nations

Three months after landing his first graded victory, Therapist  continued to thrive as an 8-year-old with a powerful late-running score in the $612,000 United Nations Stakes (G1T) July 22 at Monmouth Park. Claimed six starts ago on Jan. 20 by the New York real estate mogul Michael Dubb, the venerable gelding, a consistent contender on the northeast racing circuit for the past six years, rewarded his new connections with a glittering grade 1 trophy for his score in the 1 3/8-mile turf race.

Dubb has not become one of the country's most successful owners by accident. The shrewd businessman has owned several grade 1 winners in partnerships over the years and has accrued too many NYRA leading owner titles to count. And so when the Long Island native spied Therapist's name in the entry box for a $25,000 tag over the winter at Gulfstream Park, he was quick to pounce.

"These New York-breds are really hard-hitting horses," Dubb said. "I've followed this horse throughout his career because I've competed against him. I knew the ability and the class he had and as he got a little older they put him in claiming races. I actually tried to claim him for ($25,000 in a Dec. 30 allowance optional claimer at Gulfstream) but I was outshook. When he was put back in for ($50,000) I didn't care. I knew he was worth that and quite a bit more."

Third the day he was claimed by Dubb, Therapist proceeded to trounce a starter allowance field at Gulfstream before stretching his legs to 1 1/2 miles for the first time in his career in taking the Pan American Stakes (G2T).

"This (kind of race) is Mike Maker's sweet spot," Dubb said. "When we got (Therapist) he hadn't been running this long and I asked (Maker) why do you want to run him so long and Mike said he could see it in the breeding."

Maker's keen pedigree observations have now resulted in two graded wins for the son of Freud, whose earnings soared past the million-dollar mark with his $360,000 U.N. winner's check.

Midpack early under jockey Javier Castellano, Therapist was forced to steady into the first turn but recovered like the old pro he was making his 42nd trip to the post, settling in comfortably behind rivals. The 55-1 shot So High  put on a brief show on the front end, blasting to a five-length lead down the backstretch before being inhaled by the field turning for home.

Post-time favorite Catnip , stalking So High through a :24.76 first quarter, :49.32 half-mile, and 1:14.26 three-quarters, made the first move. A length clear of the field down the lane, Catnip appeared poised for the grade 1 triumph that alluded his half sister Princess Grace  before Therapist motored by with a furlong to the wire.

Therapist ($26.60) was on top by 1 1/2 lengths at the finish in a final time of 2:14.50 for the 1 3/8 miles over a firm turf course.

"It's amazing that he won a grade 1 race at 8 years old. He's just a professional horse," Castellano said.

Catnip held off a stout rally from Red Knight  for second. The latter took a three-way show photo.

Red Knight, the second of three Maker trainees in the field, was compromised by the soft early pace and was forced to settle for third despite closing strongly in the final stages. Maker's other entrant, Yamato , ran eighth.

Therapist's win was the third U.N. in a row for Dubb, who notched the 2022 edition with Adamho in partnership with Madaket Stables, Louis Lazzinnaro, and Michael Caruso and the 2021 running with Tribhuvan  with Madaket Stables, Caruso, and Wonder Stables. Chad Brown trained those two winners.

"I wasn't here for the first two (Adhamo in 2022 and Tribhuvan in 2021)," Dubb said. "I never came here for the other two and got lucky so I came today."

Maker also won the U.N. for the third time after success with Bigger Picture  in 2017 and Aquaphobia  in 2020.

Therapist was bred by Oak Bluff Stable and Christophe Clement, who trained Therapist until the fall of 2022 and conditioned his dam, the winning Smart Strike mare Lady Renaissance . He is a full sibling to New York-bred stakes winner Fresco .

Video: United Nations S. (G1T)