Stan the Man Takes on Fellow Veterans in Gravesend
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Photo: Coglianese Photos
Stan the Man wins the Tale of the Cat Stakes at Saratoga Race Course
Long Lake Stable's Stan the Man will commence his 7-year-old campaign as part of an experienced five-horse field Jan. 2 in the $100,000 Gravesend Stakes, a 6 1/2-furlong test for 4-year-olds and up at Aqueduct Racetrack.
Trained by John Terranova, Stan the Man has a proven affinity for the Aqueduct main track, boasting a 5-5-1 record from 15 starts, including a victory in the 2019 Queens County Stakes.
The chestnut son of Broken Vow has finished no worse than third in his last four starts, all against stakes company. Following a runner-up effort in the June 27 True North Stakes (G2) Belmont Park, he won the Aug. 20 Tale of the Cat Stakes at Saratoga Race Course against fellow Gravesend aspirant My Boy Tate.
Stan the Man comes off a runner-up finish last out to Share the Ride in the Nov. 29 Fall Highweight Handicap (G3) at Aqueduct and was third in the Oct. 3 Kelso Handicap (G2) at Belmont. Facing a field that boasts three additional contenders making their 7-year-old debuts, he enters off a sharp five-furlong bullet in 1:01 1/5 over the Belmont training track Dec. 28.
Eric Cancel has the call from post 5.
Trainer Rudy Rodriguez conditioned 8-year-old Backsideofthemoon to a victory in the Dec. 19 Queens County at the Big A and will attempt to get a stakes victory into another seasoned veteran with 13-time winner Pete's Play Call, who was claimed for $62,500 from former trainer John Toscano last out after winning going six furlongs Nov. 27 at Aqueduct.
Owned by Michael Dubb, the soon-to-be 8-year-old Maryland-bred son of Munnings will attempt to add a second stakes win to his ledger after winning the Bonapaw Stakes in December 2019 at Fair Grounds Race Course & Slots for former trainer Mike Maker.
Pete's Play Call has put together a consistent 2020 campaign, with four wins and three seconds from 12 starts.
"He's doing very well. John did a good job with him. It's a step up but we're going to take a chance and hope for the best," Rodriguez said. "He's been very consistent. His numbers keep going up, and he fits our program well. We just hope he can come back to the plate."
Pete's Play Call will be ridden by Jorge Vargas Jr. from post 3.
M and A Racing's soon-to-be 7-year-old Happy Farm makes his debut for trainer Linda Rice. The son of Ghostzapper won the 2019 Fall Highweight at the Big A ahead of a runner-up effort to Firenze Fire in last year's Gravesend. He will arrive at this year's event off a 10-month layoff and has not raced since finishing second to multiple grade 1 winner Mind Control in the March 7 Tom Fool Handicap (G3).
Jockey Jose Lezcano rides from the inside.
Completing the field are three-time stakes winner My Boy Tate and Drafted, who finished fifth last out in the Fall Highweight for trainer David Duggan. Aqueduct Racetrack, Saturday, January 02, 2021, Race 8Entries: Gravesend S.
PP
Horse
Jockey
Wgt
Trainer
M/L
1
1Happy Farm (FL)
Jose Lezcano
118
Linda Rice
4/1
2
2Drafted (FL)
Dylan Davis
118
David P. Duggan
8/1
3
3Pete's Play Call (MD)
Jorge A. Vargas, Jr.
120
Rudy R. Rodriguez
5/2
4
4My Boy Tate (NY)
Manuel Franco
118
Michelle Nevin
2/1
5
5Stan the Man (KY)
Eric Cancel
122
John P. Terranova II
9/5
