Hedge Ratio probably raised more questions than he answered with an impressive win in a $100,000 optional claimer in his last start, earning a 100 Beyer Speed Figure for the effort. Was that a freak effort, a fluke performance or a hint of more to come?

The answer appears to be leaning toward the latter.

Making his stakes debut, the Chad Brown-trained Hedge Ratio dug in to hold off longshot Star Sweeper by a nose to win Sunday’s $100,000 Long Branch Stakes for 3-year-olds at Monmouth Park before a record Mother’s Day crowd of 16,368.

The attendance surpassed last year’s record of 14,687 for the day.

“It was a fantastic Mother’s Day at Monmouth Park,” said John F. Heims, General Manager of Monmouth Park. “We are grateful for all the moms and families that spent their Sunday at the races. We are just getting started for what will certainly be another great year of racing on the Jersey Shore.”

The second day of the 50-day meet saw three-time leading trainer Kelly Breen win four of the eight races, giving him six winners already; jockey Samuel Marin win two races to bring his two-day total to six winners, and jockey Paco Lopez, seeking a record-tying 13^th riding title, added three more winners. He had six winners for the two days as well.

Marin and Lopez combined to 12 of the 16 races conducted so far.

Despite take on just three other horses following scratches, Hedge Ratio faced what was supposed to be a major test against Bricklin, who was coming out of a respectable fourth-place finish in the Grade 1 Arkansas Derby.

It never materialized.

With Star Sweep setting the early fractions in the mile and 70-yard race, Marin had Hedge Ratio sitting in last but not far off the lead. Marin urged the Klaravich Stables runner to go after the leaders midway through the final turn, and he swept past Bricklin with ease before going after Star Sweep.

The Kentucky-bred Hedge Ratio appeared as if he would go on by for an easy win before Star Sweeper dug in and re-rallied inside of him. Hedge Ratio won by a head, with Noble Heritage another 7½ lengths back in third. Bricklin, sent off at even money, was last.

The winning time was 1:42.40.

Now the question is: how good is Hedge Ratio, who was making just his sixth career start on Sunday?

“He has continued to train well and he is sharp right now,” said Luis Cabrera, who oversees Brown’s string at Monmouth Park. “The jockey might have moved a little early with him this race but it worked out. The horse is getting more experience. He’s pretty young. Everything now is a learning experience for him.

“I think he saw the horse on the inside but I think he felt he was going to keep going right by. Then it was almost as if he was waiting for company.”

With three victories in his last four starts Hedge Ratio appears to be on a path to bigger and better things. Cabrera did not rule out the NYRA Bets Pegasus Stakes on Haskell Preview Day on June 13 – or even the Grade 1, $1 million Haskell Stakes on July 18.

“Now that he was won at Monmouth we’ll see where we go from here,” said Cabrera. “That’s Chad’s decision. I think a lot of things are under consideration. He was very professional today. You can see him getting better and better.”

Marin said he could see the colt being a player in some of the upcoming 3-year-old races after his first time teaming up with Hedge Ratio.

“I watched all of his races before this and I know he is a talented horse who just needs experience. He’s a still a baby, still learning,” said Marin. “I asked him going into the final turn and he picked it up immediately. I wanted to make sure we got the jump on Bricklin because I thought he was the horse to beat and we were able to do that. The inside horse came back on us but my horse reacted to that. He’s still a green horse. That was something new for him.

“This should help him go forward. I would love to see him come back for the big 3-year-old races they have at Monmouth. It seems he did like the track so we’ll see what the decision is for his next start. He’s a talented horse who is still improving.”

Live racing resumes on Saturday. First race post time is 12:50 p.m.