Howgreatisnate outlasts Offaly Cool in Long Branch Stakes
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Howgreatisnate wore down Offaly Cool to narrowly win a fast-early, slow-late renewal of the $100,000 Long Branch Stakes on Saturday, opening day at Monmouth Park in New Jersey.
Howgreatisnate was up by a head under Jairo Rendon, with Offaly Cool about three lengths clear of third-place Ninetyprcentmaddie. Slip Mahoney, the even-money favorite, never threatened and finished fourth. Coffeewithchris and Hayes Strike were scratched, leaving a field of six 3-year-olds in the two-turn dirt contest.
Offaly Cool stalked a strong early pace, 22.68 and 46.40, from second as Howgreatisnate raced a few lengths farther back around the first turn, a seemingly favorable position Rendon abandoned with an early, four-wide bid down the backstretch. Pacesetting No Confession cracked around the far turn as Ninetyprcentmaddie also backed out of contention after being caught between horses.
Howgreatisnate put his head in front at the top of the homestretch, but Offaly Cool fought right back to gain the advantage at the furlong grounds. The race’s fourth quarter went in a crawling 26.18 seconds, but no one was coming from behind, the top two had things all to themselves as Howgreatisnate regained momentum and forged to the lead in the final strides.
Final time for the one mile, 70 yards was 1:41.21 and Howgreatisnate paid $12.60 as the third choice. Trained by Elizabeth Dobles for the Imaginary Stables, Howgreatisnate won for the fifth time in seven starts. By Speightster, out of Bee Dees Bid, by Tapit, Howgreatisnate lost his jockey and ran riderless in the Gotham Stakes after winning all four of his starts at age 2. He returned to finish fourth in the Private Terms before winning for the first time over a route of ground Saturday.
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