Stanford Topples Souper Colossal in Long Branch

Stonestreet, Magnier, Tabor & Smith’s Stanford sat off the early fractions set by Souper Colossal, allowed Total Joint to engage that leader around the far turn and then asserted himself rounding the quarter pole to post a length and a quarter victory in the $100,000 Long Branch Stakes at Monmouth Park on Saturday afternoon.

The traditional last prep race for the $1 million William Hill Haskell Invitational on Sunday, Aug. 2, Long Branch winner Stanford, a graded stakes placed runner, had previously received his invite to Monmouth’s biggest race.

“He is a really classy horse,” said winning jockey Joe Bravo.  “They were going an honest pace up front.  I asked him to go a little bit before the quarter pole to just get him going and he answered really nicely.  If he comes back for the Haskell, the good thing is that we know he likes the course.”

Trained by Todd Pletcher, Stanford covered the mile and a sixteenth over a fast main track in 1:44 1/5 and returned $3, $2.20 and $2.10 as the odds-on choice in the field of seven 3-year-old colts and geldings.  Souper Colossal completed the $9.40 exacta and paid $3 and $2.60.  It was nearly six lengths back to Total Joint, who paid $4 to show.

A colt by Malibu Moon from the Distorted Humor mare Rosy Humor, Stanford earned his first stakes victory in taking the Long Branch.  The earner of nearly $300,000 broke his maiden at first asking at Monmouth on June 29 of last year.

Source: Monmouth Park