Warrant Wins Isaac Murphy Marathon Overnight Stakes

Warrant , best known for running second in the 2022 Santa Anita Handicap (G1), won the May 3 $175,000 Isaac Murphy Marathon Overnight Stakes for older horses going 1 1/2 miles at Churchill Downs.

The 5-year-old son of Constitution   was eighth in this year's Big 'Cap with a rough trip before seeking some class relief in long-distance overnight stakes.

    

Under Flavien Prat, riding for Twin Creeks Racing Stable and trainer Brad Cox, Warrant took the lead from favored Next  in the upper stretch and then held off a late bid from Red Run  to prevail by a diminishing neck. The final time was 2:31.03 over a fast main track. 

Warrant stalked the pace of Next, who set fractions of :25.44, :49.74, 1:14.74, and 1:39.37. On the far turn, Warrant turned up the pressure and the two leaders hit the top of the stretch together after 10 furlongs in 2:04.63.

Warrant took aim passing the three-sixteenths pole, opened a daylight margin, and had enough to hold off the bid from Red Run.

"He's a horse that I thought would get better with age," Cox said. "I was disappointed in his last race (when third in the April 2 Temperence Hill Stakes at Oaklawn Park). He ran flat that day. He shipped here from Oaklawn and had a good week leading up to this race. He put it all together today."

The victory was worth $106,518 and made Warrant a millionaire with earnings of $1,058,893 from a record of 5-5-4 in 16 starts. Warrant was bred in Kentucky by Twin Creeks out of the First Samurai   mare Whisper Number.