Richard Pegum’s Muhannak got a dream trip under jockey Patrick Smullen to win the inaugural Breeders’ Cup Marathon in track-record time at Santa Anita Park Oct. 25, second day of the Breeders’ Cup World Championships.

Photo: BLOOD-HORSE

As expected, the early pace in the 1 1/2-mile Marathon was pedestrian, Muhannak rated kindly in fourth through fractions of :50.08 for a half-mile and 1:18.71 for six furlongs.

Photo: WALLY SKALIJ

Muhannak rallied near the center of the Pro-Ride synthetic surface as the field bunched up, slipped away by a length, and gamely held off fast-closing Church Service, who finished a head back in second.

Photo: Skip Dickstein

The final time was 2:28.24, almost a full second faster than the 1 1/2-mile record set by Niagara Causeway in March 2008 on a different synthetic surface at Santa Anita. It is now the Breeders’ Cup Marathon track record.

Photo: RICK SAMUELS

Muhannak paid $26.80 to win. It was his fourth victory in five starts this year, and seventh in 14 starts overall.

Photo: Skip Dickstein

Muhannak showed a fondness for synthetic surfaces in Europe; he had four wins and never was worse than third in seven starts coming into the Marathon. The 1 1/2 miles suited him perfectly as well.

Photo: BILL LUSTER

After the race, Pegum, who lives in England and has about 10 horses in training, credited trainer Ralph Beckett for Muhannak’s recent success. Beckett took over the gelding’s training in the summer, and Muhannak is now three-for-three under his care.

Photo: Skip Dickstein

“He got the perfect trip,"" Beckett said. ""Pat (Smullen) just said they were crawling. We worked it out beforehand that he had to be running going into the bend. Whether that meant he hit the front too soon or not, he had to be rolling going into the bend.

Photo: BILL LUSTER

Photo: Skip Dickstein

Here the connections can be seen celebrating with the winning trophy.

Photo: Anne M. Eberhardt