HORSE RACING

• Muhannak wins first Breeders' Cup Marathon

  
  

  Arcadia, CA (Sports Network) - Day two of the 25th edition of the Breeders' Cup World Thoroughbred Championships commenced at Santa Anita Park with Muhannak winning the inaugural running of the $500,000 Marathon.

  Muhannak's victory was the first by a European horse in this year's championships.

  Ridden by Patrick Smullen, Muhannak was fourth while Booyah set the pace in the 1 1/2 mile event. On the final turn Muhannak ranged up from the outside to join the leaders and assumed the lead at the top of the stretch.

  Muhannak, trained by Ralph Beckett, held off Church Service and Big Booster down the stretch to post a neck victory. Finishing fourth in the eight-horse field was Delightful Kiss. Sixties Icon, the 7-5 favorite, finished off the board.

  Final time for the 1 1/2 mile Marathon was 2:28.24 on the synthetic track.

  Trainer Barry Abrams reported Saturday morning that Marathon entrant Add Heat had sustained a minor injury to the suspensory of his right front leg and was withdrawn from the race.

  Owned by Richard Pegum, Muhannak earned $300,000 with the win to boost his career bankroll to $417,575. The four-year-old gelding has won seven of 15 lifetime starts, including his last five races.

  Muhannak returned $26.80, $10.80 and $6.20. Church Service paid $9.60 and $6.80, and Big Booster paid $6.80 to show.

  10/25 13:33:17 ET