Shadwell Stable’s Ekhtibaar dug in gamely to prevail in a lengthy stretch duel over Deep Sea, winning by a half-length in the $40,000 featured allowance race Sunday at Monmouth Park following a stirring battle between two of the top riders in track history. 

Joe Bravo, who has won a record 13 Monmouth Park riding titles, was able to get the better of five-time riding champion Paco Lopez after the two separated themselves from the rest of the field and went nose-to-nose for most of the stretch. 

It was another 10¼ lengths back to Nauset Beach in third in five-horse field. Time for the mile over a sloppy track was 1:37.80. 

“How great was that? I was out there wearing Shadwell colors. Here at Monmouth Park you had one of the biggest outfits in the world running in your backyard,” said Bravo. “I hope everyone at the Jersey Shore appreciated a Shadwell horse running here.” 

Trained by Chad Brown, Ekhtibaar returned $3.20 to win as the prohibitive favorite. On Saturday, Brown and Bravo teamed to win the featured Grade 2 Monmouth Stakes. 

Monmouth Park’s three-day Memorial Day weekend of racing continues Monday with a first race post time of 12:50 p.m.