Itsinthepost grinds way to victory in Marathon Stakes

ARCADIA, Calif. - When it comes to Itsinthepost, trainer Jeff Mullins is no longer concerned about surface as he is distance. So while Itsinthepost, a 7-year-old gelding, was making just his third career start on dirt in Friday’s Grade 2, $200,000 Marathon Stakes at Santa Anita, the fact it was at 1 3/4 miles was truly all that mattered.

“It’s all the distance,” Mullins said.

Itsinthepost showed again he is a true stayer by outlasting his five rivals to take the Marathon by three-quarters of a length over Zestful. It was another three-quarters of a length to American Tattoo in third. Brave Nation was fourth, followed by Street to Indy and Campaign, the 3-5 favorite who was virtually eased six furlongs from the wire but who did finish the race.

Itsinthepost is now a Grade 2 winner on both dirt and turf. He added the Marathon to previous turf triumphs in the John Henry Turf Cup, San Gabriel, San Marcos, San Luis Rey and Charlie Whittingham.

“It’s so good to win one,” Mullins said. “We gave him some time off. Sometimes you give these old horses time off after a long campaign - especially the one he had - and they just don’t come back. Dirt wasn’t really what we wanted. He gave us a good race at Del Mar.”

Mullins was referring to the Cougar II Handicap, a 1 1/2-mile dirt race in July in which Itsinthepost finished second to Campaign.

Mullins felt Itsinthepost made the lead too soon in the Cougar II. Friday, under Drayden Van Dyke, Itsinthepost made the lead just before the quarter pole, and was able outlast the competition through the lane.

“He was taking me there, I was just trying to not get in his way too much,” Van Dyke said.

Said Mullins: “Everybody was out of gas. He just kind of held them off.”

Itsinthepost covered the 1 3/4 miles in 3:03.95 and returned $8.80 to win.

Campaign went four wide around the second turn under Joel Rosario, who said the horse basically quit on him a few strides later.

“A horse came up on the inside of him around the second turn and he wasn’t too happy about it,” Rosario said. “A couple of more strides he slowed himself up, he gave it up.”