Navy Commander in charge throughout in winning Long Branch

Navy Commander dictated terms from the first few jumps in a wire-to-wire victory Saturday in the 84th running of the $98,000 Long Branch Stakes at Monmouth Park in Oceanport, N.J.

Breaking very sharply from the outside post in a field of five 3-year-olds, Navy Commander was clear in just a few strides, then settled kindly for jockey Angel Arroyo in the 1 1/16-mile Long Branch.

On easy fractions of 25.79 seconds, 51.57, and 1:15.55, mild challenges were put forth by Supreme Aura, then American Lincoln, but Navy Commander had plenty in reserve when pulling away to a 3 1/4-length triumph over American Lincoln. The winner paid $7.60 as the third choice after finishing in 1:46.66 over a fast surface.

Butch Reid trains Navy Commander for Swilcan Stables, which bred the son of Poseidon’s Warrior in Pennsylvania. The Long Branch marked the chestnut gelding’s first stakes win and his fifth victory from 11 starts.

“You could not have asked for a better scenario than the way this race unfolded for us,” said Reid. “I knew there were a couple of horses behind him that were going to test him, and he came through with flying colors.”

With the victory, Navy Commander will receive an invitation to the Monmouth showcase, the Grade 1 Haskell Invitational on July 29.

“We have to see if we think we’ll be competitive,” said Reid. “We don’t enter races just for the sake of running in races. But it’s always a prestigious race and something you have to think about long and hard if you’re invited to it. You only get so many shots in a horse’s career and a 3-year-old horse’s career and sometimes you have to step out of your comfort zone and take a chance.”