Man of Iron just got the victory in the Marathon (Lauren Pomeroy/Horsephotos.com)

The 2009 Breeders' Cup at Santa Anita got off to a thrilling start on Friday as MAN OF IRON (Giant's Causeway) rallied determinedly to catch Cloudy's Knight (Lord Avie) in deep stretch and outfinished his nine-year-old rival by a nose in the $454,500 Marathon. The European horses were expected to dominate the 1 3/4-mile event over the Pro-Ride, but Man of Iron was the most unheralded member of the four-horse contingent. The regally-bred colt garnered his first stakes victory when stopping the teletimer in 2:54 beneath Johnny Murtagh.

Trained by Aidan O'Brien, Man of Iron entered his U.S. debut off an allowance score over the all-weather track at Dundalk, England, and the three-year-old finished fourth behind stablemate and Dirt Mile (G1) favorite Mastercraftsman (Ire) (Danehill Dancer) in the Diamond S. (Ire-G3) two back. The chestnut was best known for being the younger half-brother to a pair of Belmont S. (G1) winners, champion Rags to Riches (A.P. Indy) and Jazil (Seeking the Gold), but Man of Iron is now starting to carve out his own legacy on the track.

"That was brilliant," O'Brien said. "We're delighted. Johnny gave him a wonderful ride. Johnny said that he was just going to take his time because that's the way he likes to be ridden. That's what he did. It was just a marvelous ride."

Black Astor (Black Minnaloushe) broke running from the rail and led the way through opening splits in :48 1/5, 1:13 3/5 and 1:39 as Murtagh rated near the back of the field. Cloudy's Knight, who stalked in midpack under Rosemary Homeister Jr., got first run on the pacesetter midway on the far turn, and the venerable nine-year-old gelding, who recently returned from a year layoff with a pair of Grade 3 victories, stormed into the stretch with the lead. Mastery (GB) (Sulamani [Ire]), the 7-5 favorite, came next on the far outside, and Man of Iron, who shifted course to the inside leaving the far turn, was in full flight approaching the quarter-pole. Cloudy's Knight looked strong in upper stretch and reached the 12-furlong point with a length lead in 2:29 2/5, but he began to drift toward the outside and couldn't withstand the winner's late surge.

Man of Iron gave the Europeans their first win on the day (Ted Terquinio/Horsephotos.com)

Off as the 6-1 fourth choice among 10 rivals, Man of Iron paid $14.80, $7.20 and $4.40. Cloudy's Knight came next in the wagering at nearly 8-1 and gave back $7.40 and $4.60. It was 2 1/4 lengths back to Mastery, who returned $2.40. The $1 exotics totaled $60.10 (exacta), $225.10 (trifecta) and $2,845.50 for the 9-4-6-10 superfecta that included 30-1 Gangbuster (Langfuhr), who finished another 11 1/2 lengths back in fourth.

Defending champ Muhannak (Ire) (Chester House) checked in fifth and was followed under the wire by 3-1 second choice Father Time (GB) (Dansili [GB]), Eldaafer (A.P. Indy), Nite Light (Thunder Gulch) and Black Astor. Sir Dave (Untuttable) was eased.

Bred in the Bluegrass State by Shell Bloodstock, Man of Iron is out of Grade 2 heroine Better Than Honour (Deputy Minister), who finished second in the 1999 Acorn S. (G1) and third in the Mother Goose S. (G1), earning $250,920 from an 8-2-4-2 mark. She is out of 1982 Kentucky Oaks (G1) heroine Blush With Pride (Blushing Groom [Fr]), making her a full sister to Group 3 victor Turnberry Isle (Ire) (Deputy Minister) and a half-sister to Group 2 heroine and Group 1 runner-up Smolensk (Danzig) as well as Group 1 runner-up Maryinsky (Ire) (Sadler's Wells). Named Broodmare of the Year in 2007, the 13-year-old mare is also the dam of 2008 Peter Pan (G2) winner Casino Drive (Mineshaft) and the unraced two-year-old colt Arco Felice (Giant's Causeway).