LOUISVILLE, Ky. – Going 1 1/2 miles is a long, three-turn trip at Churchill Downs – and Next and Classic Causeway could be staring at one another for a good bit of it. The two graded stakes winners, who have both found success racing on the lead, are part of a field of eight going this route of ground for Wednesday’s $200,000 Isaac Murphy Marathon Overnight Stakes. “He’s doing fantastic, but that other horse – both of them have speed,” said Classic Causeway’s trainer, Kenny McPeek. “That’s going to be interesting, to see how that unfolds.” Next has been a hugely profitable claim since trainer William “Doug” Cowans picked him up for $62,500 in 2022. He has found his niche at marathon distances, winning five of his last six starts, all at 1 1/2 miles or longer. The only loss in that span came when the gelding was third in last year’s Isaac Murphy, his only start at Churchill Downs to date. He bounced out of that to win the Grade 2 Brooklyn at Belmont by 2 1/4 lengths, the Birdstone at Saratoga by 11 3/4 lengths, and the Grade 2 Greenwood Cup at Parx Racing by 25 lengths in his most recent outing in September. His two most recent starts earned Beyer Speed Figures of 105 and 104, respectively. The prevailing wisdom is that it’s best to draw outside of the other speed, and Next got exactly that in the draw as he and regular rider Luan Machado landed in post 7, with Classic Causeway and Brian Hernandez Jr. in post 5. However, the position of the starting gate for this distance will create an extremely short run into the first turn, putting Next at risk of losing ground. Classic Causeway, a graded stakes winner on both dirt and turf, scored his biggest win in the Grade 1 Belmont Derby at 1 1/4 miles on turf in July 2022. He hasn’t won since, but that includes a sojourn to England last year, in which he faced extremely strong competition. Given a seven-month freshening after that trip, Classic Causeway has a recency edge on Next after a strong return race in which he found new life in a dirt marathon. In the Temperence Hill Stakes on March 29 at Oaklawn, Classic Causeway set the pace, then was edged by just a head at the wire by Masqueparade. He earned a Beyer of 95, which was an improvement from his other recent efforts. Some pace from Next and Classic Causeway would suit Masqueparade, who is back for the Isaac Murphy, and Red Run. Masqueparade is making his first start for Rob Atras, and his first as a gelding. Red Run was most recently fourth in the Temperence Hill. Last year, he was second by a neck in the Isaac Murphy and third behind Next in the Brooklyn. :: Want to learn more about handicapping and wagering? Check out DRF's Handicapping 101 and Wagering 101 pages.