Las Vegas Marathon lures long-winded locals

ARCADIA, Calif. – Officially, the $500,000 Breeders’ Cup Marathon at 1 3/4 miles ended a six-year run earlier this year when the Breeders’ Cup organization discontinued a race that never drew the expected quality of runners from around the world and often had fields strung out through the stretch.

As a consolation, Santa Anita will run the $200,000 Las Vegas Marathon at 1 3/4 miles on Friday, but it is largely a local event. Of the nine runners, eight are based in Southern California.

KEY CONTENDERS

Big Kick (Last 3 Beyers: 76-31-98)

◗ Big Kick has had an erratic season. The former claimer won the Grade 2 San Juan Capistrano Handicap over about 1 3/4 miles on turf here in June but was 10th in the $400,000 American St. Leger Stakes at 1 11/16 miles on turf at Arlington Park on Aug. 16 and seventh in the Grade 2 John Henry Turf Championship here on turf Sept. 28.

◗ Big Kick runs on the lead, as do Friday opponents Big Cazanova and Mystery Train. (Big Cazanova is on the also-eligible list for Saturday’s $5 million Breeders’ Cup Classic.) Trainer Mike Machowsky is concerned that a speed duel may develop.

“If everyone runs like they’ve been running, it will set up for someone coming from off the pace,” Machowsky said. “He seems to run best when he’s loose on the lead. I’m hoping Big Cazanova draws in the Classic.”

Irish Surf (Last 3 Beyers: 86-106-96)

◗ The Las Vegas Marathon has been on Irish Surf’s schedule since the 4-year-old colt won the Grade 3 Cougar II Handicap at 1 1/2 miles on the synthetic main track at Del Mar on July 25. Trained by Dan Hendricks, Irish Surf followed that win with fifth-place finishes in the Pacific Classic and John Henry Turf Championship.

◗ The Las Vegas Marathon will be Irish Surf’s first start on dirt since a fifth-place finish in a maiden race here in April 2013. Hendricks said a quick pace will help Irish Surf, if he can perform on dirt.

“I’ll be curious to see how it sets up with speed horses,” he said. “I want to see him get comfortable close to the pace. I’m not sure how he’ll handle it. He acts like he likes it, but who knows?

Big Cazanova (Last 3 Beyers: 78-84-102)

◗ Big Cazanova was stakes-placed in dirt-track marathons in Peru in 2013. He was seventh in the Grade 1 Jockey Club Gold Cup at Belmont Park on Sept. 27 in his U.S. stakes debut, fading on the final turn.

◗ At Del Mar, Big Cazanova won consecutive optional claimers at a mile and 1 1/8 miles on the synthetic track, leading throughout in both.

Cary Street (Last 3 Beyers: 83-96-86)

◗ Cary Street won the Greenwood Cup at 1 1/2 miles at Parx Racing on Sept. 1 and was a well-beaten third in the Temperence Hill Stakes over 1 5/8 miles on a sloppy track at Belmont Park on Oct. 4.

“If he runs back to his race at Parx, he’ll be tough,” trainer Brendan Walsh said.