Dayson was able to overtake Will Take Charge into the backstretch, but before Dayson marched past the half in :56.3, Tony Soprano was on the move from fourth. Marion Marauder tracked his cover.
While Dayson and Tony Soprano duelled in the turn, the bettor's choice broke stride as they went by the three-quarter pole in 1:25.
As the field of 10 turned for home, Marion Marauder fanned off cover and used a :27.2 final kick to trot past his rivals and take a new 1:52.4 lifetime mark by half a length. Will Take Charge finished second and Blenheim railed for third.
"I was confident in him so I pushed him out of the gate and I was able to land a spot where I saw John [Campbell] floating on the outside with a really nice horse of [trainer Bob] McIntosh's," Zeron said regarding Tony Soprano. "So, I was happy to have that cover and finally be in the right spot-be within two lengths at the three-quarter pole, and he delivered."
Marion Marauder notched his second victory of the season and third lifetime. With the win, the son Muscle Hill and Spellbound Hanover lifts his career earnings to $495,234 for owners Marion Jean Wellwood, of Stratford, and Devin Keeling, of Cambridge.
Marion Marauder returned $18.40 to win.
Mark McKelvie