Woods sales grad Rattlesnake Bridge, a 3-year-old son of Tapit, willed his way to a nose victory in the $165,000 Long Branch S. July 9 at Monmouth Park.

Rattlesnake Bridge was the highest price colt sold at the 2010 Fasig-Tipton Midlantic sale in May,  bringing $450,000 from Steve Young, agent. Woods sold the Kentucky bred as the agent for breeders William Graves and Dennis Lynch. The colt is the first runner out of Prall Street and comes from the same family that includes Grade 1 winner True Knight and Grade 2 winner Rigamajig.

Covered up behind horses after stumbling at the start of the Long Branch, Rattlesnake Bridge was near the back of the field of eight after five furlongs. Jockey Eddie Castro waited until the three-eighths pole before moving very wide for the stretch drive. He closed furiously down the outside to just get up over All of the Above.  The final time for the mile and sixteenth over the fast main track was 1:41.71.

“It was a great performance,” said winning trainer Kiaran McLaughlin. “He stumbled a little coming out of the gate, and I actually thought he’d be a little further back with them going :22 3/5 for the first quarter.”

The Grade 1, $1 million Haskell I. in three weeks could be next, “We’ll talk it over, but we’d love to come back for the Haskell.”

In five career starts, Rattlesnake Bridge is now 2-2-0; he upped his lifetime bankroll to $153,200 for owner Mill House.