Sea Streak runs away with Long Branch Stakes

On opening day of the 2024 racing season at Monmouth Park, the racecourse at the Jersey Shore, it was the New Jersey-bred who stole the show. Sea Streak, bred in New Jersey and by the New Jersey sire Sea Wizard, took command of the $100,000 Long Branch Stakes at the half-mile pole and drew away to a 7 1/4-length victory in the Saturday feature.

Sea Streak had finished a well-beaten seventh in his lone previous start around two turns but aced his second try, getting the one mile, 70 yards in a solid 1:41.70. Left in his wake and a distant second was 13-10 favorite Heartened, who had three-quarters of a length on third-place Crazy Mason in this dirt route for 3-year-olds. The second choice, Sea Streak paid $6.40.

“He’s a New Jersey-bred, but he’s a very good horse,” said jockey Jairo Rendon, who was aboard Sea Streak for the gelding’s lone previous win, a maiden sprint romp last October at Aqueduct.

:: Get the Inside Track with the FREE DRF Morning Line Email Newsletter. Subscribe now.

Sea Streak, in his most recent start, the one after the Holy Bull, dropped back from stakes competition to a first-level allowance but ran into the elite talent Knightsbridge, finishing a distant second in a one-turn mile. His jockey that day, Jose Ortiz, suggested trainer Eddie Owens stretch Sea Streak back out to a longer distance.

“He told me to run him two turns. He said two turns would be better for him,” Owens said.

It definitely didn’t hurt. Rendon gave Sea Streak a patient ride and had a willing partner, a horse, Owens said, who for a time was racing greenly. Sea Streak showed speed in the Long Branch but the horse just outside him, Lonesome Boy, pulled for his head and wound up in front through an opening quarter-mile in 23.78. Rendon held his position along the fence, not letting Lonesome Boy cross in front of him, and easing alongside the pacesetter approaching the half-mile pole. Sea Streak put his head in front before hitting the second turn, navigated the bend athletically, and burst into the clear after turning for home, much the best.

Owens trains Sea Streak for his breeder, Vincent Annarella’s Holly Crest Farm. Sea Wizard has had an outside impact with New Jersey-bred from limited runners, and Sea Streak was produced by the Silver Deputy mare, High Noon Nellie.

The Long Branch nominally is the first of two local preps for the July 20 Haskell Invitational, and Owens said that if Sea Streak was doing well, the gelding also would run in the second of them, the Pegasus Stakes on June 15.

:: Want to learn more about handicapping and wagering? Check out DRF's Handicapping 101 and Wagering 101 pages.