Patient Cary Street Wins Las Vegas Marathon
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By Jerry Bossert
Last the first time past the wire, Cary Street was first when it counted, taking the $200,000 Las Vegas Marathon (gr. II) easily over favored Irish Surf at Santa Anita Park Oct. 31.
Trailing throughout in the field of eight going the rare distance of 1 3/4 miles, Cary Street made his winning move entering the far turn for the final time when he rallied along the rail under jockey Miguel Mena, easily passing tiring rivals. He tipped to the outside and ran past Irish Surf and Big Cazanova to prevail by 9 1/4 lengths.
Irish Surf just lasted to be second over longshot Patrioticandproud by half a length , while Sky Kingdom got up to be fourth. Big Cazanova, who was an also-eligible for the Breeders' Cup Classic (gr. I), weakened to fifth, while Ice Cream Truck and Volkonsky completed the order of finish. Big Kick was eased in the stretch, while Mystery Train was an early scratch.
Cary Street, a 5-year-old gelding by Smarty Jones , was bred by Darley Stud in Kentucky and is owned by Marc Detampel and trainer Brendan Walsh.
"I wasn't too concerned (about the horse trailing the field early on)," Walsh said. "I had a fair idea that they might go quickly, so I just told (Mena) to get him in the rail, save the ground, and he gave him such a great ride. He was so patient. This horse can run all day."
Big Kick and Big Cazanova battled through the first six furlongs in a swift 1:10.20 for the distance, setting it up for Cary Street's big closing kick. Cary Street was timed in 2:58.29 on a fast track.
"I didn't really want to be that far back early on but they were rockin' and rollin' the first part of the race," Mena said. "This horse runs all day so I wasn't worried about it when they went out there so quick. He likes this distance; the farther he goes, the better he gets.
"I started looking for the leader at the five-eighths pole and (Cary Street) started to kick on for me. He finished great; he was rolling. He was the best horse in the race. I didn't panic, I knew he was going to come running at the end."
The win in the Las Vegas Marathon was the biggest in the career of the 5-year-old gelding Walsh claimed for $10,000 Feb. 13, 2013, out of a fourth-place finish at Gulfstream Park.
On Sept. 1, Cary Street won the $200,000 Greenwood Cup Stakes (gr. III) at Parx Racing going 1 1/2 miles. He now has won six of 19 career starts with earnings totaling $370,275.
Cary Street returned $7.80, $3.80, and $3.20 across the board. Irish Surf paid $3.60 and $2.80, while Patrioticandproud returned $8.40 to show.