14 Furlongs To Decide Who Has The Stamina in the BB Marathon
Breeders Bowl’s $750,000 Grade 1 Marathon drew 14 top class stayers looking to add this jewel to their caps. A very contentious race, any of these horses could get the job done. These talented colts and fillies will face off Friday November, 2nd in Kentucky at 2:00 PM over the grueling Mile and Three Quarters distance (although many have run farther). This race will be great to watch.
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GOLFTEAM: 5G KY Kitten’s Joy – (Scratch), Ela-Mana-Mou 8/1
Trainer: golfteam1
20:11-2-2 75%ITM Multiple GI Winner of over 2 Million
At first glance it would seem 14 furlongs is shorter than this gelding would prefer however two of his three tries at this distance have produced the speed figure of 114. He has only beat these figures once which was in a G1 over 16 furlongs so 14 panels seems well liked. He is coming out of the 16 furlong G1 Seattle Stayer which he won by four. You have to go back to August of 2017 to find a race with a speed figure less than 100 for this talented gelding. With only one off the board finish on dirt he should be tough to beat.
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ACTUARY TED: 3C JPN Deep Impact – Technically T, Theatrical 21/1
Trainer: march2nd
16: 5-2-2 56%ITM Stakes Winner of over 1 Million
Out of the Grade 1 winning mare Technically T this young colt holds a lot of promise. The only 3 year old in the field, he will have a lot of work to do in order to best older horses of this quality. He has never been sent past 13 furlongs but his win last out in an allowance of that distance saw him win by 4 on the wire. He will have to improve his speed figures and make a huge leap forward; but he is the lightest raced colt in the field which encourages improvement. Just starting to hit his stride. If he handles the distance, could surprise.
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NEW KING IN TOWN: 5H ENG New Approach (IRE) – Kammie, King Kamehameha 14/1
Trainer: frankster
25: 5-9-1 60%ITM Grade 3 Winner of over 800 Thousand
Having run second in the Breeders Bowl Marathon last year this colt is back for a second shot. After taking just over three months off he has not returned to previous form. His last out was a sound win over 15 furlongs at the open allowance level in NM but previous runs this year have been lackluster. He will need to find his stride again to compete here but maybe his last out gave him the confidence boost he needs.
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RETREAT RIGHTS: 4M KY Malibu Moon – (Scratch), Unbridled 7/1
Trainer: chloedawg4
19: 7-3-1 58%ITM Grade 1 Winner of ofer 1.6 Million
Steadily improving colt is consistent and coming out of the 12 furlong Grade 3 Fall Championship where he ran second with a 112 speed figure. Only having run 14 furlongs once in the Grade 1 Big Apple, he performed well with a solid second. This colt has the talent if he can get the distance at this level. His single attempt was strong but will have to run better than a 107 to get the job done. This horse is the co-favorite and if it was at the 12 furlongs it would be expected, here distance is a concern.
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DAICON: 5M KY Giant’s Causeway – Cocooma (hemare), Dynaformer 12/1
Trainer: redcar
18: 10-2-1 72%ITM Grade 1 Winner of over 400 Thousand
Consistently this colt has been to the winner circle. More than half of his races have resulted in wins. The catch is these races have been almost exclusively at the allowance level. He answered the class questions resoundingly last out galloping away with the Grade 1 Muddy Waters Leg 1, posting a 114. This colt deserves the respect and if he improves again he is absolutely a threat, being relatively untested. Dangerous.
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THE THROAT: 4C KY Tiznow – Shadow Mistress, Unbridled Song 8/1
Trainer: round
19: 9-5-2 84%ITM Grade 3 Winner of over 500 Thousand
Coming off a win in the 14 panel Molson Export this light grey colt is looking to keep his consistency with the Breeders Bowl Marathon. He has not run a speed figure under 100 since April of last year, 13 races back. Figures well, if he can build off his last could come home a winner. This is one colt that likely was wishing for an off track and did not get his wish. Still one to watch.
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VALE OF AVALON: 4C AUS Medaglia D’Oro – (Scratch), Caerleon 11/1
Trainer: shadier
19: 9-4-3 84%ITM Grade 1 Winner of over 1 Million
Last out saw this colt run a good second in the Grade 1 Monster Mash. This colt is just starting to hit his stride. Though he regressed a little last out; he won the Grade 1 Razorback Route two back posting a 114 speed figure. He had a long time between the Monster Mash and the Razorback Route but this colt seems to like some distance between his races. He may actually want a couple furlongs shorter but by no means count him out. With a Grade 1 win over the distance and a speed figure near the top this colt has the ability to take this race.
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A MAMBO LINE: 4C KY Line of David – Hi Ho Mambo, Silver Charm 9/1
Trainer: padrebri12
22: 6-6-7 86%ITM Stakes Winner of over 500 Thousand
Another contender coming out of the Grade 1 Muddy Waters Leg 1, this colt will need to look into some of his previous runs in order to find enough to win here. The real question is when he finds true competition can he go on. His wins are mostly in races where he wins by daylight and that will be difficult to do at this level. He closes well and if he can get through he could definitely pick up the pieces. He has a stakes win over 14 furlongs by four lengths but two loses in graded company over the same distance. The distance might be just a furlong to long in graded company and he is only one of two in the field without a graded win.
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BLUESTONE LANE: 5H AUS Medaglia D’Oro – (Scratch), Deputy Minister 10/1
Trainer: correction
22: 12-5-2 86%ITM Grade 2 Winner of over 700 Thousand
This horse is consistent however his last out in the Grade 1 Monster Mash saw him finish a dull seventh. In fact his two attempts at a Grade 1 have not seen him hit the board despite clearly handling the Grade 2 competition. He does have a stakes win over the distance and likely is happy there will be no rain since he is untested over a wet track. He will need to run the race of his life to get it done.
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UNQUESTIONABLY: 4C FR Redoute’s Choice – Sublease, Deep Impact 11/1
Trainer: corza2
20: 4-4-1 45%ITM Grade 1 Winner of over 600 Thousand
Grade 1 winner last out of the 14 furlong Monster Mash he has defeated some in here already. Having done most of his work on the turf he is 2 for 4 over the dirt but has not been the most consistent overall. It took some time to come around but come around he did. He will need to improve again to best these but that is not out of the question. It looks like he likes the distance here and is finding his best stride when it counts. Might Surprise.
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GOLFING: 6H ENG Dubawi (IRE) – (Scratch), Sadler’s Wells 11/1
Trainer: golf
19: 7-2-2 58%ITM Grade 2 Winner of over 500 Thousand
A scratch bred, lightly raced 6 year old, this colt has only had three starts this year. While he has not run much he has also not raced at any distance other than 14 furlongs since 2016. He has won three stakes over this distance, one being a Grade 2. He could be dangerous in here and is happy the dirt is dry. He has been off almost 6 months and while he runs well fresh this is a big big ask.
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DE LONHRO: 5H AUS Lohnro – Defective, Pulpit 7/1
Trainer: rx7
28: 10-3-4 61%ITM Grade 1 Winner of over 1.3 Million
This brown colt prefers the 14 furlongs or longer but has been less consistent as of late. Coming out of the 12 furlong Mine Trader Stakes where he wan 6th and before that the 14 furlong Razorback Route found him 3rd. This is another colt that wishes it would rain. The distance is in his wheelhouse and he has the ability, the question is whether or not he is returning to form or on his way out. As the lukewarm co-favorite he is not to be discounted.
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CONNECT THE SPOTS: 7F JPN Empire Maker – (Scratch), Nureyev 9/1
Trainer: tgerk1
18: 11-1-1 72%ITM Grade 1 Winner of over 2.3 Million
This filly is coming out of the 16 furlong Grade 1 Scottsdale Stayer where she ran a strong second with a 112 speed figure. She likes the 14 furlong distance where she had won four races, three of them graded. She seems to streak then have a cold period, which she may be in now, although the second to last out was a good effort. She has never run more than a 112 speed figure but she is lightly raced and can improve. This will be her first time facing the boys, so she is in tough. There are lots of questions to be answered with this filly.
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PIONEERSOPIONEERS: 4F KY Pioneer of the Nile – (Scratch), Nureyev 20/1
Trainer: asrstar
20: 9-5-1 75%ITM Grade 1 Winner of over 900 Thousand
This streaking filly has a lot of talent and will take on the boys for (almost) the first time. Her last race was a soft prep in a hot race against the boys (though not competition for her by any means). Having only lost one race this year she is very hot right now. She defeated her fellow mare CONNECT THE SPOTS in the Scottsdale Stayer. With cutting back to 14 furlongs and facing tougher competition there is still a couple questions but she is absolutely a serious threat.
This race is highly competitive with an outstanding group at the top of their division. With a field as well matched as this appears to be I always like to look for some value. As such I think my picks for the Marathon will be: 14 – 10 – 5 – 7
Congratulations to all breeders and trainers who have a horse in this fantastic field. Good luck and safe trips!