Stanford lives up to favoritism in Long Branch

Stanford, the heavy favorite, notched his first stakes triumph Saturday by defeating Souper Colossal by 1 1/4 lengths in the $103,000 Long Branch Stakes at Monmount Park in Oceanport, N.J.

With Joe Bravo riding for trainer Todd Pletcher, Stanford sat a nice trip in the 1 1/16-mile race from just behind Souper Colossal before moving to a clear lead leaving the quarter pole. Souper Colossal, ridden by Paco Lopez, actually fought back to reduce the margin inside the eighth pole, only to flatten out late. Total Joint was another 5 3/4 lengths back in third in a field of seven 3-year-olds.

Stanford, a bay colt by Malibu Moon, returned $3 to win after finishing in 1:44.31 over a fast track.

After the top three, the order of finish was Battle Midway, Fortuitous Path, Gorgeous Bird, and Iamahandsome Man.

Owned by the Coolmore group and Stonestreet Stables, Stanford had finished second in his last three starts: the Islamorada at Gulfstream, the Louisiana Derby at Fair Grounds, and the Easy Goer at Belmont Park. The colt was entered but scratched in the Kentucky Derby.

It was the third stakes victory in as many weekends for Bravo, who won the June 20 Ohio Derby on Mr. Z and the July 5 United Nations on Big Blue Kitten. Bravo surpassed the 5,000-win milestone in May.

Pletcher, as usual, leads the national trainer standings with more than $12.7 million in earnings this year.

The $2 exacta (3-6) paid $9.40, the $1 trifecta (3-6-2) returned $33.90, and the 10-cent superfecta (3-6-2-1) was worth $21.46.