OCEANPORT, N.J. * Mike Rutherford’s Adger made an impressive debut at Monmouth Park on Friday as he jumped into the lead from the gate and never looked back, scoring by two and a half lengths in the $37,000 maiden special event.

The winner, trained by Steve Asmussen and ridden by Joe Bravo, stopped the timer in 1:05 2/5 for the five and a half furlongs over a fast main track. He paid $14.60, $7 and $4.60 across the board and topped an $84 exacta.

One Seat Empty finished second and paid $6.80 and $4.20, with Anniversary Joy two lengths farther back in third, returning $6.40 to show. Cosimo, the even-money favorite also trained by Asmussen, rallied belatedly to finish fourth.

Adger, a colt by Malibu Moon, had been training sharply in Kentucky before coming to Monmouth at the end of July. His dam, the Stormin Fever mare East Bay, also broke her maiden at first asking. Adger was a $45,000 yearling purchase at last year’s Keeneland September sale.

The winner was never threatened as he clipped off fractions of :22 4/5 for the quarter and :46 for the half, and entered the stretch with a long lead which he held to the wire.