Stamford and Souper Colossal Square Off in $100,000 Long Branch

Todd Pletcher will send out Stamford as the morning line favorite at 7-5 odds. A bay son of Malibu Moon, he has won two of his six starts and will be trying to earn the first stakes victory of his career. Last time out, he was second in the Easy Goer Stakes in his first start back off of a brief freshening. He will have Joe Bravo in the irons and they are scheduled to break from post position three as he tries for a breakthrough victory.

Home track advantage for Souper Colossal 

Super Colossal is the second choice in the field at odds of 8-5 for trainer Edward Plesa, Jr. A bay son of War Front, he has won four of his six starts and returned this year off of a three-month layoff to win the Texas Glitter Stakes. He was second last time out in the Select Stakes at Monmouth Park and has been training forwardly since then. Paco Lopez will be in the irons and they will break from post position six.

Gorgeous Bird trying to rebound and return to form

Also in the field at morning line odds of 9-2 is Gorgeous Bird for trainer Ian Wilkes.  A homebred for Marylou Whitney, the gray son of Unbridled’s Song has won two of his six starts and is trying to improve off of three consecutive off-the-board finishes. He was sixth in an optional claiming race last time out. Angel Serpa will be aboard and they will break from post position five as he goes for his first stakes victory.