Churchill Downs: How to bet the 2025 Isaac Murphy Marathon

One of two stakes taking place on the “Winsday” card during Kentucky Derby week at Churchill Downs is the $200,000 Isaac Murphy Marathon for older horses racing 1 1/2 miles over the main track.

Since its inaugural edition in 2019, high-quality marathoners like Next and Lone Rock have won the Isaac Murphy Marathon. #5 Lambeth (2-1) looks ready to join the club on Wednesday.

Isaac Murphy Marathon: wagers

• $10 to win on #5 Lambeth
• $22 Exacta: 5 with 2
• $8 Exacta: 5 with 8
  Total: $40

Lambeth won three of his first nine starts racing 1 1/8 miles or less, including a Feb. 23 allowance at Oaklawn Park in which he pressed an honest pace before pulling clear to win by 4 1/2 lengths. But he elevated his game to a new level when stretching out over 1 1/2 miles for the Temperence Hill S. at Oaklawn Park last month.

Indeed, Lambeth led from the start to trounce a quality field by 3 1/2 lengths, earning a career-best 106 Brisnet Speed rating. That’s the highest number recently posted by any horse in Wednesday’s field.

There isn’t much pace entered in the Isaac Murphy Marathon, so Lambeth figures to secure an easy lead and never look back—hence our recommendation to key him on top in the exacta. We also suggest betting $10 to win on Lambeth, since players who opt-in to the Kentucky Derby Week $10 Money Back offer on TwinSpires.com will receive refunds on win bets (up to $10) if their horse finishes second or third in any eligible race at Churchill Downs this week.

#2 Game Warden (3-1) tracked the pace in the Temperence Hill before staying on for second place, 9 3/4 lengths clear of the third-place finisher. He’s a logical contender to round out the exacta again on Wednesday, especially if he settles into a comfortable position stalking a modest pace set by Lambeth.

#8 Timeout (8-1) is the other horse we’ll use for runner-up honors. The stoutly bred son of two-time Horse of the Year Curlin was produced by the War Front mare Lull, winner of two graded stakes, racing one mile on turf.

Timeout has yet to race 1 1/2 miles, and his last two starts have come on turf. But he’s shown flashes of talent in dirt routes. Last year, he broke his maiden racing 1 1/8 miles at Aqueduct, finished third in the 1 1/8-mile Curlin S. at Saratoga, and ran second by half a length to Game Warden in a 1 1/8-mile Saratoga allowance.

There’s a chance Timeout will thrive while stretching out over 1 1/2 miles, so don’t leave him off your tickets.

Good luck!