Jersey-bred Sea Streak looks right at home in Long Branch

Trainer Eddie Owens wanted to make sure anyone standing within earshot as he made his way to the winner’s circle understood Sea Streak’s latest performance was simply a statement by a very good horse.

“Don’t let the NJ (New Jersey-bred designation) fool you,” he announced over and over.

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In the first local prep for the Grade 1 Haskell Stakes, Sea Streak stamped himself as a potential contender for Monmouth Park’s showcase race after romping to a 7 1/4-length victory in Saturday’s $100,000 Long Branch Stakes on opening day.

Ridden by Jairo Rendón, Sea Streak shrugged off all challenges from six other 3-year-olds including Todd Pletcher-trained Heartened, the 6-5 favorite who had to settle for second. Crazy Mason was another three-quarters of a length back in third.

Sea Streak covered the mile and 70 yards in 1:41.90. With the win, the Holly Crest Farm homebred also earned free entry and start fees to the Haskell on July 20.

Told that Thanks to Tony in 1980 was the only New Jersey-bred who has won the Haskell, Owens said, “We’ll try to make it two.”

Sent off at 2-1, the gelded son of Sea Wizard returned $6.40 to win. It marked his first win since a maiden special-weight romp at Aqueduct as a 2-year-old five races ago.

“I think I got too big with him early, and he was green and running green,” said Owens, who also teamed with Rendón to win with Little Ni in the first race on the card. “Today he put it all together. He’s for real.”

Tested by Lonesome Boy and Sugar Boy through early fractions of 23.78 and 48.10 seconds, Sea Streak made his move for the lead on the rail and took over on the far turn. He was gone after he did so.

“Eddie told me if they let you go to the lead, you’ll be on the lead. But if they fight for the lead, let him relax and go at his pace,” Rendón said. “He’s a horse that knows what to do. I got the best trip I could get. I breezed the horse the other day, and I knew he was ready to go. And I knew he could get the distance.

“He’s a Jersey-bred, but he’s a very good horse. He has been running against some good horses at Gulfstream and in New York.”

Owens said he would wait to see how Sea Streak, the only New Jersey-bred in the field, comes out of the race before plotting his next move. The Pegasus Stakes on June 15 is the next local Haskell prep.

“We’ll see how he comes back,” Owens said. “If he’s tired, I might back off on him a little bit. He didn’t look like the distance bothered him. He looked very good doing what he did today, so we’ll see. It will be the Pegasus if he’s good.”

Sea Streak improved his record to 7: 2-3-1 and lifted his earnings to $184,110.

“We had a little speed on the outside of us. I was worried Sugar Boy would go, but he didn’t go,” Owens said. “Jairo sat perfect with him. When he was ready to go he went.

“After his last race at Gulfstream (a runner-up finish in a one-turn mile), I talked to (jockey) José Ortiz, and he told me to run him two turns. He said two turns would be better for him. I was hoping to see this (type of performance) sooner, but I was expecting it the whole time.”