The Jersey Shore Breeders' Cup Stakes scratched from six horses down to four, but really, it was only about one. Henny Hughes made his first start since finishing second last fall in the Breeders' Cup Juvenile, and he did not disappoint, pulling effortlessly away in the stretch to win the Jersey Shore by 10 lengths on Saturday at Monmouth Park.
His trainer, Kiaran McLaughlin, had wondered if Henny Hughes would be better in his second start back than his first, but Henny Hughes's six-furlong time of 1:08.26 was only .42 of a second off the 14-year-old Monmouth track record.
"That was wow!," said McLaughlin, who watched the race from Belmont Park, where he saddled Invasor to win the Suburban Handicap shortly thereafter. "I thought he might need a race; he's just that good."
He's Got Grit outbroke Henny Hughes, who drew the rail, but that worked fine for Henny Hughes, as jockey Joe Bravo moved him off the fence and outside He's Got Grit. Henny Hughes ($2.80) pressed the pace, then took over through a half-mile in a fast 44.71 seconds, but what's fast for most horses is cruising speed for this freakish animal, who has never finished worse than second. The early fractions took the starch out of He's Got Grit, who was passed for second by Saint Daimon. Changing Weather never was a factor and finished fourth. Keyed Entry and Fabulous Strike were scratched.
Henny Hughes is owned by Zabeel Racing International.
McGlaughlin said Henny Hughes's main summer goal is the King's Bishop on Aug. 26 at Saratoga.