Breeders' Cup Marathon: Pool Play, Worldly should be fine on outside
ARCADIA, Calif. - Monday’s post-position draw for the $500,000 Breeders’ Cup Marathon at Santa Anita on Friday is likely to have little effect on race strategy.
The Marathon is the longest of the Breeders’ Cup races, run over 1 3/4 miles on the main track, allowing ample time for the 10 runners to sort themselves out before reaching the first of three turns.
[BREEDERS’ CUP 2013: Fields with DRF odds and comments]
The three runners most likely to show speed are spread across the gate. Commander and Ever Rider start from posts 3 and 4, while Blueskiesnrainbows breaks from post 8. Commander has won four stakes this year, all in Western Canada, at distances ranging from a mile to 1 3/8 miles.
There will be support for the two runners in the outside stalls – Pool Play and Worldly.
Pool Play won at the distance in the 2010 Valedictory Stakes at Woodbine. Eighth in the 2012 BC Classic, Pool Play is winless in seven starts this year, but was second and third in Grade 3 races at Gulfstream Park and Parx Racing.
Making his 28th start, Worldly will start at 1 3/4 miles for the first time on Friday. A 6-year-old horse, Worldly was third behind Fort Larned in the Homecoming Classic at Churchill Downs on Sept. 28. Fort Larned won the 2012 BC Classic, and starts in the same race on Saturday.
Breeders’ Cup Marathon
Purse: $500,000; 1 3/4 miles
PP, Horse, Jockey, morning-line odds
1. Old Time Hockey (J. Lezcano) 8-1
2. Cease (D. Cohen) 8-1
3. Commander (A. Gryder) 6-1
4. Ever Rider (Arg) (G. Stevens) 7-2
5. Suns Out Guns Out (J. Leparoux) 10-1
6. Indian Jones (A. Castillo) 5-1
7. London Bridge (M. Smith) 8-1
8. Blueskiesnrainbows (M. Pedroza) 6-1
9. Pool Play (E. Da Silva) 8-1
10. Worldly (D. Flores) 6-1
Post time: Friday, 4:45 p.m. Eastern