The United Nations (G1), which was run at Monmouth Park on Saturday, was a “Win and You’re In” race. With a
gate to wire victory in the mile and three-eighths race, Turbo Compressor won a spot in the 2012 $3,000,000 Breeders’ Cup
Turf Championship. Thanks to an
innovative promotion at the Jersey Shore track 10 fans won a chance to wager
$500 on the United Nations.
Ten Monmouth Park patrons
were selected as winners of a $500 betting voucher that they were required to
wager on the United Nations. What was different about this promotion was that
they could make any kind of wager that was available on the race. The group was made up of casual racing
fans and more serious bettors. Several said that they “come to the races two or
three times a year.” One gentleman said he comes “every Saturday.” Another
jokingly admitted that he is at the track, “far too often.”
Of the ten names that were
pulled only eight took part in the wager. One had already gone home. The other
was a very serious gambler who declined the opportunity and unbelievably said,
“I don’t have time for this because I have a lot of important bets to make.”
All of the participants
came up with some way to 
guarantee that they would have at least one winning
wager on the seven-horse field. Some of the bettors tried exactas and
trifectas, but they found success with win, place, and show bets. The chart
shows the bets that each person cashed. The leading bettor hit both of her $250
show tickets and brought home $900.
We all would love to be in that situation, right? Unfortunately my name did not get picked.
The racing was dominated by jockey
‘Jersey’ Joe Bravo. Bravo teamed with trainer Todd Pletcher to win the both the
$200,000 Monmouth Cup (G2) and the $500,000 United Nations.
First Bravo guided third choice Rule to a length and half victory in the Monmouth Cup over
multiple graded stakes winner Flat Out.
Bravo was impressed with his horse’s effort after a nine-month layoff, “He came
out of the gate with running on his mind. I don’t care how long the layoff,
this horse was ready to go the minute the gates opened. He was doing it
very easy, all the way down the backstretch. Todd had him ready to run
and I just steered him around the track.”
Just as he had done three weeks earlier
in the Colonial Turf Cup, Bravo
guided Turbo Compressor to a front running victory, “I was just a passenger
today. This horse just keeps getting stronger as he gets older. He
was a good dirt horse and now he’s a great turf horse. Pace makes the
race and we were able to get out there and control it on our terms. He
was nice and relaxed the whole way and really kicked on in the lane when I
called on him.”
This was the first time that the
talented turf rider had won the United 
Nations. It is only fitting as Bravo has been winning major turf
events all over the country. “What a day,” said Bravo. “I’m very fortunate to
have ridden two great horses this afternoon. Todd is simply the best.”
The Breeders’ Cup team has developed
the Challenge races as sites where the “Win and You’re In” berths can be won
and today Turbo Compressor got one of them. Monmouth Park used the $500 wager as an innovative way to
generate interest and excitement at the racetrack. Today eight fans brought home
money, appeared on the in-house television feed, and spent time in the winner’s
circle.