Chelsea Durand Photo

Stan the Man makes triumphant return in $125K Queens County

by Keith McCalmont

OZONE PARK, N.Y. - Long Lake Stable's Stan the Man returned from a six-month layoff to earn his first career stakes win in Saturday's $125,000 Queens County at Aqueduct Racetrack.

Trained by John Terranova and patiently piloted by Dylan Davis, Stan the Man entered the nine-furlong test for 3-year-olds and upward from an even fifth in the Grade 2 True North on June 7 at Belmont Park.

The 5-year-old Broken Vow gelding was provided an early advantage in the Queens County when favored Major Cabbie stumbled from the gate and unseated rider Junior Alvarado. Bon Raison, with Joey Martinez up, led the remaining field of six through an opening quarter-mile in 23.73 seconds and the half-mile in 47.45 with Stan the Man content to stalk from third position.

Han Sense took over from a fading Bon Raison with Stan the Man looming large in second position, while Adventist, in last through three-quarters in 1:11.27 under John Bisono, wound up for his stretch run. Han Sense clung to a narrow head advantage at the top of the lane as Stan the Man was set down to put away the stubborn frontrunner, with the menacing late charge of Adventist still to deal with. However, Stan the Man proved to be all heart in the final 70 yards and stayed on for a neck score in a final time of 1:50.72 on the fast main track.

Adventist completed the exacta a length and a half the better of Han Sense. Backsideofthemoon, Roaming Union and Bon Raison completed the order of finish. Major Cabbie was corralled by the outrider and both horse and jockey Alvarado walked off the track under their own power.

Davis was full of praise for the determined return effort from Stan the Man.

"I didn't know the horse stumbled out of there and lost the rider until we got to the backside and I saw the loose horse on the outside. Once I saw that, I was really relaxed as he was one of our main competitors," said Davis. "I moved when I wanted to and really had him in a good rhythm. He got a little late close to the wire, but he should improve off of that. John [Terranova] did a great job getting him ready off the layoff."

Terranova also found strong words for the resilient effort from Stan the Man.

"He had dead aim on them in the stretch and really dug in. Hopefully he continues to improve as the winter goes on with a race or two more under his belt," said Terranova. "He gave a great effort. We figured the layoff might catch up with him a little bit, but the trip worked out nicely for him and Dylan rode him really well. We're just glad to have him back to the races and happy it all worked out."

Uriah St. Lewis, trainer of 28-1 longshot runner-up Adventist, lamented the loss of a potential pace battle for his late-running charge.

"He ran very good. If the four horse [Major Cabbie] doesn't lose the rider he wins easy," said St. Lewis. "The four would have been up close and my horse was running hard down the stretch."

Stan the Man, bred in Kentucky by Emma Quinn, Dermot Quinn, Scott Pierce and Debbie Pierce, banked $68,750 in victory while improving his record to 6-6-2 from 20 starts. He paid $7.40 for a $2 win ticket.

Live racing resumes on Sunday at the Big A with a 10-race card highlighted by the $100,000 Gravesend. First post is 12 p.m. Eastern.