The Dirt Marathon – Breeders’ Cup Preview

With the preview of the first Breeders’ Cup out of the way like a scrumptious appetizer, horse bettors can now look to the main menu and the entrees of the 9 BC races that will be carded on October 25. The first event we’ll cover is the $500,000 Dirt Marathon, a new event added this year.

Not a lot of horses want to go a mile and a half these days, but the ones that want to get paid will have to do just that in Arcadia to shine.

The contenders will be varied and will include Sarah Palin’s favorite, Fairbanks, who just took the Hawthorne Gold Cup last weekend; Zappa, who has his own eccentric following that is not quite like what you would expect from his musical namesake, will be a player; and the romantic Delightful Kiss, who just won at the same demanding distance on the Polytrack at Turfway Park on September 6.

Horse bettors should watch where Fairbanks is drawn as he doesn’t like being inside.

Consider the quotes after his last win by his rider, Richard Migliore: “I didn’t want to be caught in a position where I was committed to being inside and in a duel. Once I got my horse back off the bridle it was no trouble.”

If looking for a live longshot in this race, horse bettors could do worse that Big Booster. The reformed claimer was hung wide last time and could not collar Zappa but he has shown an affinity for the Arcadia scene, has handled grass and the synthetic and he’s in the right hands of Mike Mitchell.

One of his better assets is he will be partnered by the new darling of the Western set, Rafael Bejarano.

Freshened since late July, he has been pointed to this race and has trained steadily throughout September. He is pace-dependent but if they go fast enough early, this one will be picking them up and laying them down.

The pace will be honest if Da Tara shows up.

He has not raced since fading in the Travers but he proved in the Belmont Stakes at this very distance that he could get very brave with a lonely lead.

The bad news for Da Tara and the good news for Big Booster comes in the form of Fairbanks, who also has some serious designs on the lead on BC Day and is peaking right now.

He just won a mile and three sixteenth stakes at Saratoga and he did it going away when posting his second best career Beyer of 107.

Those lucky, or for some unlucky, enough to live through the 1960s remember the icons of the decade in the names of JFK, Marilyn Monroe, the Beatles and the event when the first man walked on the moon but those that deal in reality will be backing Sixties Icon in Arcadia.

He has raced entirely on grass and he has limited speed but he can’t be underestimated.

A winner of 3 of 5 this year with a 2nd, the only off performance came against the world-class runner Duke of Marmalade, and this pro’s best asset is that he doesn’t have to roll out his own script to beat you.

He’s taken Group 2 races stalking in third, he’s won listed races going away by 5 lengths and he’s won battles, like the nose score in the mile and 5 eighths Geoffrey Freer at Newbury in August.

If tie-dye is your fashion, this guy is right up your alley and he’ll have value.