Hebbronville had to take the long way around, but was still able to make the grade in the $100,000 Jersey Shore Stakes (gr. III) July 25 at Monmouth Park.

The son of Majesticperfection, with jockey Trevor McCarthy aboard for trainer Lynn Whiting, went four wide coming out of the turn in the six-furlong dirt test for 3-year-olds and outfinished W V Jettsetter in the final sixteenth to win by a neck.

W V Jetsetter, with Joe Bravo in the irons, got a dream trip along the rail and took command at the top of the stretch, after Joe Franklin set fractions of :21.50 and :44.14 through a half-mile. W V Jetsetter appeared to pull clear, but was tracked down late by Hebbronville. Joe Franklin hung on for third, 6 3/4 lengths back, and 1-2 favorite Blame Jim faded to finish fourth after stalking the early pace.

“I didn’t want to rush him too much so we didn’t go after the early speed,” McCarthy said. “I was all right with going to the outside, because he had a lot left when we were rounding the turn. He is the kind of horse the more you ask of him, the more he gives. He just kept fighting until the wire.”

Hebbronville hit the wire in 1:09.65 for his second straight victory, following an allowance/optional claiming victory at Ellis Park July 3. Owned by Choctaw Racing Stable, Winning Horse Stable, and Scott Galloway, the colt’s best finish in a graded stakes previously was a second in the Futurity Stakes (gr. II) at Belmont Park last October.

“We’ve been trying to ease him off the pace,” Whiting said. “Today, with all the speed in there, we thought that was the only option and it worked. He’s faced some real nice runners in the past and today. This was a great performance from him. We’ll head home (Churchill Downs), digest this win and then make a plan for his future.”

The winner paid $11.80, $5, and $5.20 across the board. W V Jetsetter brought $5.60 and $4.80, while Joe Franklin delivered $4.40 to show.

Hebbronville was bred in Kentucky by Padua Stables, out of the Tour d’Or mare More d’Amour, and has $214,850 in earnings after his first graded stakes score, with a record of 4-1-2 from 10 career starts.

Courtesy of the Bloodhorse