St Anthony notches another Monmouth win in Oceanport Stakes

You were wondering why Hall of Fame trainer Neil Drysdale sent St Anthony all the way from California to Monmouth Park for Friday’s Oceanport Stakes, the gelding’s first start since November?

St Anthony provided an answer, a dominant 1 1/2-length victory in the $100,000 Oceanport, which failed to fill when originally scheduled last weekend before being brought back for Friday’s program.

“I want to thank Neil,” said winning rider Joe Bravo, “but I have a question. ‘Neil, how did you find out this horse loves Monmouth Park so much?’”

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Love it, he does. St Anthony came to Monmouth for the first time last summer and knocked out an allowance race win before landing the Red Bank Stakes by more than two lengths. He ran below form in his season’s finale but was expertly prepared for his first start following a layoff of more than eight months, Drysdale sending St Anthony East in time for the horse to get in a work at Monmouth.

St Anthony won the Oceanport by 1 1/2 lengths over game pacesetter There Are No Words. The margin could have been considerably wider. Snugged just behind the leader while saving ground throughout the 1 1/16-mile grass race, St Anthony came loaded into the homestretch, but when Bravo attempted an inside run to the lead, There Are No Words drifted to his left, cutting off the opening and forcing Bravo to steady. Bravo either considered or feinted a run between horses, then steered back to the rail and this time got through, St Anthony rapidly opening daylight.

“He exploded,” Bravo said. “That’s why I love riding races, horses like this.”

There Are No Words set sail for the lead from post 1 and laid down demanding splits, 22.89 and 46.62, holding on stubbornly to save second by a nose over fellow New Jersey-bred He’spuregold. Big Everest finished fourth, followed by 3-2 favorite Kubrick, with 2023 Oceanport winner Highest Distinction last of seven. St Anthony was timed in 1:41.28 over a firm course and paid a generous $21.20.

St Anthony now has six wins from 19 starts, half those triumphs at Monmouth. A homebred 5-year-old, St Anthony campaigns for Alice Bamford. The gelding is by Noble Mission out of Amnesia, by Invincible Spirit – and at Monmouth, St Anthony has indeed been invincible.

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