When a horse likes a turf course as much as St Anthony relishes Monmouth Park’s, shipping cross country and doing so off a nine-month layoff are merely minor inconveniences.

Given a rail-skimming ride throughout the entire mile and a sixteenth race by Joe Bravo, St Anthony found just enough room to squeeze through late and powered his way to a 1½-length victory in Friday’s $114,000 Oceanport Stakes at the Jersey Shore track.

Trained by Neil Drysdale, St Anthony had been idle since a dull finish in the Artie Schiller Stakes at Aqueduct on Nov. 12. Prior to that he won both of his grass starts at Monmouth Park, including a victory in the Red Bank Stakes.

“I have one question: I want to know how Mr. Neil Drysdale found out this horse loves Monmouth Park so much,” said Bravo. “Three-for-three at Monmouth Park and he came from California for this. That’s a good horseman.”

The winning time over a grass course listed as firm was 1:41.28.

“I felt the race was much tougher than anticipated. We saw the race coming up much stronger than what we anticipated,” said Drysdale. “But he’s been training very well (at Del Mar). He was coming in off a nice long rest so he was fresh.”

Sent off at 9-1 in the field of seven 3-year-olds and up, St Anthony recorded his sixth career victory from 19 starts.

But it wasn’t a completely smooth journey for the Kentucky-bred 5-year-old gelded son of Noble Mission, who is owned by Alice Bamford.

Bravo was content to sit third along the rail as Jersey-bred There Are No Words carved out :22.89, “46.62 and 1:09.87 for six furlongs. The mile was reached in 1:34.89, with the Chuck Spina-trained There Are No Words still the front runner.

As Bravo tried to push through along the rail in mid-stretch, There Are No Words came over on him slightly, causing St Anthony to briefly steady until room appeared.

“Joe Bravo game him a beautiful ride,” said Drysdale. “It was a little bit worrying when the horse came over on top of him in the stretch. He had to steady. Fortunately, that’s where the chute comes in and he was able to find room.”

Bravo had hoped to be outside before that but was unable to find an opening.

“My intentions were to tip out turning for home but there was really no place to tip out,” said Bravo. “Sometimes in life you have to take what they give you. I’m just thankful the horse ran great.”

St Anthony paid $21.20 to win, with There Are No Words holding second, a nose ahead of fellow Jersey-bred He’spuregold.

Kubrick, the 3-2 favorite, was fifth, with 2-1 second choice Big Everest grabbing fourth. Highestdistinction, who won the Oceanport Stakes last year, finished last coming off a 10-month layoff.

Drysdale said he will consider wheeling St Anthony back in 17 days in the Red Bank Stakes at a mile on the grass.

“There’s a chance we will bring him back for the Red Bank Stakes. Let’s see how he comes out of this,” he said.