Breeders' Cup 2013 - Marathon

8.45 Santa Anita

Breeders’ Cup Marathon (Grade 2) (3yo+) (Dirt)

Winner $286,050

Advice: 1 pt win Indian Jones (6/1 general)

Old Time Hockey:  Not upto competition with the best of his age group last season after taking a weak renewal of La Jolla Handicap; Looked as if a step up in trip would suit him the last twice and if it does then he could be given a chance in open race, for all that this his first start on turf which is a worry; Others make slightly more appeal.

Cease: Recently moved to New York; Interesting on his late second to Pool Play at Hawthorne last year when he went four wide in to last turn and was just outstayed late; Beaten the last thrice in allowance claimers from 7 to 9f, however, and not looked a cast iron stayer either.

Commander: String of first three finishes under his belt and a ready repeat winner of the BC Premier at Hastings Park latest but all speed from the front that time and ould do no better than 9^th in this last year; Others make more appeal.

Ever Rider: Argentinan raider looking to follow directly in footsteps of last year’s winner (Caldioscopio), representing much the same connections; Set his own gallop from the start, kicked clear, and held on to win the Clasico General Belgrano in Argentina and since been training here; Must be respected coming here but worry that he’ll be found vulnerable on stamina front in a race with early speed and was all out towards end of Clasico General Belgrano; Should go well.

Suns Out Guns Out: Ready and easy winner of Allowance contest at Parx over a mile latest after his fourth in the Greenwoood Cup, having been four wide for most of the journey; However well behind Indian Jones on that occasion and little to sugar that things will change between the pair of them here.

Indian Jones: Career best for this late bloomer when running 2010 winner Eladaafer to a nose giving 3lbs in the Greenwood Cup at Parx Racecourse, having been last early (also went before closing around the home turn and only just been edged out in the last 100 yards (Pool Play also behind); That form ranks highly and suggests that he should get this trip better than most; Tuneup run at a mile latest should have him set to run to a personal best. 

London Bridge: Confirmed himself a stayer on the up when a close third in Ascot’s King George V Handicap but outsped at Deauville in listed company afterwards; Booking of Mike Smith is a great addition for Jo Hughes and stamina not a problem, but hard to know if he’ll take to dirt.

Blueskinesnrainbows: Close third in Del Mar’s Cougar Handicap over 12 furlongs, his best piece of form here but last in Grade 1 there; Winner of Ralph M Minds’s Handicap in impressive style but well beaten when trying to follow up over that same C&D on less favourable terms; Can go well here with test of stamina sure to suit and great C&D record also in his favour.

Pool Play: Would have this all sewn up if he could recapture the spark that saw him win the Stephen Foster but has a mind of his own nowadays and comprehensively outpointed by Indian Jones in the Goodwood Cup latest.

Wordly: Much improved since switching yards to Brendan Walsh, threatening to challenge Breeders’ Cup Classic winner Fort Larned at Chruchill latest; Interesting if he can bring his best to the table here although not a cast iron stayer of this trip.

VERDICT: Many feel there are too many races at this event but it’s a two days like no other and one to be truly savoured, even with less European raids than recently. The three runnings of this race on dirt have all come to closers who picked up the pieces after pace battles and with significant early speed again it might pay to be on those coming late. Ever Ready must be respected after Caldioscopio’s win last year but he had little left at the end of the Clasico General in Argentina and is unlikely to have an easy lead here, which puts his stamina in possible doubt. INDIAN JONES’S taking around the turn move when just nosed out in the Goodwood Cup was a very impressive effort given how much ground he was asked to make up and in what’s not the strongest renewal, he can last home better than anyone. Blueskiesandrainbows is likely to be a threat if not at his best form and deserves consideration.