Breeders’ Cup Marathon: Indian Jones, Ever Rider stand out in salty, balanced field

It just wouldn’t be the Breeders’ Cup Marathon if the field had a clear-cut favorite, and this year’s renewal upholds that tradition.

The field for the $500,000 Marathon, to be run Nov. 1 at a distance of 1 3/4 miles over Santa Anita’s main track, is a melting pot of nationalities, résumés, and backgrounds that makes just about every horse in the field a legitimate threat to win.

Leading the North American platoon is Indian Jones, the runner-up by a nose at Parx Racing in the Grade 3 Greenwood Cup Stakes, North America’s marquee prep for the Marathon.

The 6-year-old Smarty Jones gelding was a $25,000 claim by owners Gold Starr Racing and trainer Philip Aristone on May 26 at Parx. Since the acquisition, the gelding has won twice, and finished second twice, highlighted by his narrow defeat to 2010 Marathon winner Eldaafer in the 1 1/2-mile Greenwood Cup.

The claim meant a successful reunion for Aristone, who trained Indian Jones for two years before losing him for a $25,000 tag in April. He picked the gelding back up two starts later for the same price.

[BREEDERS’ CUP 2013: See DRF’s top contenders]

“I don’t think you can really train a horse to go a mile and a half or a mile and three-quarters,” Aristone said. “They can do it or they can’t. He proved that he could do it, and it was a once-in-a-lifetime chance for the owners, so we decided to take a shot.”

Indian Jones enters the Marathon off a runner-up finish in a one-mile optional claiming race on Sept. 26 at Laurel Park. After spotting the leader 13 lengths through the early goings of the race, the gelding swung out and closed with interest to finish a length behind winner Cherokee Artist. That effort was enough to convince Aristone that the gelding was ready for the next step.

“He closed so much ground,” Aristone said. “The horse on the lead just got out there and nobody ran with him, and he sort of ran against the bias closing so many lengths. He really came running.”

Southern Hemisphere import Ever Rider will attempt to replicate the success of last year’s Marathon winner, Calidoscopio, both having earned the race’s lone Win and You’re In spot in the Group 2 Clasico General Belgrano in Argentina. A 5-year-old son of Rider Stripes, Ever Rider has been training up to the race at Santa Anita since shipping to the track earlier this summer.

Ever Rider has arguably the field’s strongest long-distance credentials, with six starts at about 1 1/4 miles or longer, including the 1 9/16-mile Clasico General Belgrano. The move toward distance has been a fairly new revelation for Ever Rider, who mainly sprinted before regularly entering races over a mile just this year. He will be saddled by Maria Christina Munoz for owner Stud Parque Patricios.

The lone European invader is London Bridge, a 3-year-old Arch colt who owns listed stakes wins at 1 1/4 and 1 1/2 miles on the turf in England. Owned by Waratah Thoroughbreds and trained by Jo Hughes, the Marathon will be the colt’s first start on dirt.

Stretching out for the Marathon will be Grade 2-placed stakes winner Worldly, who runs for owner Chad Schumer and trainer Brendan Walsh. The 6-year-old son of A.P. Indy has never raced at a distance longer than 1 1/4 miles, but has performed admirably when given the task.

“In the U.S., there are very few opportunities to go beyond a mile and an eighth, which is where we think he is probably best suited, so we’re going to take our chance,” Schumer said. “I don’t know if he’ll run a mile and three-quarters. With the Marathon’s distance, pedigree is the most important thing, and he certainly has the pedigree.”

The horse with arguably the most back class in the Marathon field is Pool Play, winner of the 2011 Stephen Foster Handicap. The 8-year-old Silver Deputy horse is winless in 2013, and backs into the race after finishing well last in the Homecoming Classic on Sept 28 at Churchill Downs, but his performance often improves when given lighter competition.

“His last race wasn’t good,” admitted trainer Mark Casse, who conditions the horse for Bill Farish. “As Pool Play’s getting older, he’s lost all his speed, but he can run all day, so we’re going to give it a shot.”

Also working in Pool Play’s favor is experience at the distance. He is the only horse in the field to win a race at 1 3/4 miles or longer, which he did winning the 2010 Valedictory Stakes at Woodbine.

“He just goes along at one speed,” Casse said. “He doesn’t quicken like he used to, but he still can go. His endurance level is as good as ever.”