Jamminwithbrandon makes his first start over the Monmouth Park main track as he returns to stakes company against four other 3-year-olds in Saturday’s $100,000 Long Branch Stakes.

            “He fought on really well last time out in a tough race,” said trainer Louis Linder Jr. “He came out of it a little tired but has returned to his old self and really fit. We gave him a maintenance work last week and then a strong gallop on Thursday to ready him for Saturday.”

            The colt by Stay Thirsty out the Fusaichi Pegasus mare Baltic Flier made his stakes debut in the  Easy Goer on the Belmont Stakes undercard where he finished fourth behind Haskell possible West Coast. It was the first time in his career that he finished off the board.

            The Easy Goer was also his first time running over a fast main track against winners. In his two prior attempts, against allowance optional claiming rivals, he rallied to finish third by three-quarters of a length over a muddy track at Pimlico on May 20 and a runner-up finish on a good main track at Belmont on April 28.

            Owned by Bran Jam Stable and David W. Clark, Jamminwithbrandon has worked once at Parx in preparation for the Long Branch. He breezed five furlongs in 1:02 on June 27. Eddie Castro will get the call for the first time on Saturday.

            Jamminwithbrandon broke his maiden in his fourth career start on April 4 at Parx when he finished second in a maiden special weight event, but was placed first after being bumped in the stretch.

            “He’s faced some really good horses so far in his tough campaign,” said Linder Jr. “I hope he breaks from the gate well and will probably be sitting just off the pace.”

            To grab his first stakes win, Jamminwithbrandon will have to get by Eddie Plesa Jr. trained Talk Logistics, who finished second in the Grade 3 Pegasus Stakes at Monmouth on June 18 behind Haskell probable and undefeated Timeline.

            The Long Branch is set to go as race 10 on Saturday’s 11-race card. Gates open at 11:30 a.m. with first post scheduled for 12:50 p.m.