Ridden by Jose Ferrer, Max Forever made a big move in the backstretch to get into contention and finished the 1 1/16 mile race in 1:43.56 over a fast track to edge Christine's Outlaw by a head.

"He's so strong, I tried to get a hold of him early and wait, but he pulled me down the backstretch," said Ferrer. "When Carrero (Victor, jockey on Chilly Rooster) moved off the fence, I just shot through there. That other horse (Christine's Outlaw) never got by me. My horse just kept digging and digging all the way to the wire."

Max Forever paid $25, $6.80, and $2.60. The exacta paid $64.60.

Chilly Rooster finished third, 2 1/4 lengths back. Ashmore, Inhand, and Newfoundland completed the order of finish.

The Long Branch is the final prep race at Monmouth before the $1 million Haskell Invitational on Aug. 3. The race winner is usually extended an invitation to the Haskell, but Max Forever's trainer Ben Perkins Jr. did not commit to any plans Saturday.

"I'm not sure what we'll do with him now," Perkins said. "We'll have to sit back and think about the next move."