Stanco Hopes for Oaks Sequel with Mo d'Amour

When someone has scaled lofty peaks, he is no longer afraid of heights.

Meet Ed Stanco, whose Mo D'Amour will contest the Longines Kentucky Oaks (gr. I) May 6. Winner of the Busher Stakes and then third in the Gazelle Stakes (gr. II), the filly by Uncle Mo  , out of the Scat Daddy mare Neverthesame, isn’t even the most-talked-about filly in her barn—not with Oaks favorite Rachel's Valentina residing a few stalls down in the Todd Pletcher shedrow.

But Stanco isn’t going to let the absence of a graded stakes score bother him, not after his Princess of Sylmar won the Oaks three years ago after winning the Busher and finishing second in the Gazelle.

“After you win the Oaks at 38-1, the odds don’t scare you anymore,” said Stanco, an insurance executive who, as a kid, had an uncle who used to take him to the harness races in Saratoga Springs. N.Y. In 2013 it was Stanco hosting his granddaughters at Saratoga during the magical summer when “The Princess,” as he calls her, won the TVG Coaching Club American Oaks and Alabama Stakes (both gr. I), fulfilling a dream of the kid who grew up in upstate New York when he saw one of the lawn jockeys outside Saratoga’s gate painted in his purple and light blue silks.

Stanco, who spends as much time as he can up at the Spa each summer handicapping with friends around a table, purchased Mo D’Amour for $75,000 out of the Ocala Breeders’ Sales Co.’s March auction of 2-year olds through agent Joe Brocklebank. The relatively low purchase price was reflective of issues that caused Stanco to send the filly to a farm for six months of R&R.

“Our philosophy is don’t push them; get them healthy and happy and be patient and wait till they’re ready, and it’s worked out with her,” he said.

Mo d’Amour won her maiden at first asking and has finished off the board just once in six starts. The Gazelle was run over a muddy track, and Stanco said Pletcher was disappointed in that he didn’t learn anything about the filly from that race as far as whether she was moving forward. A couple of strong workouts convinced the trainer that Mo d’Amour did indeed belong in the Oaks.

She is owned by Stanco and four partners who comprise this version of King of Prussia Stable. After winning the Oaks with Princess of Sylmar, Stanco has been back each year to absorb what he accomplished.

“To go the first time was a real whirlwind, and when we won we were in shock,” said Stanco. “I went back with my wife the following year and then I went back last year again to see what it was we actually won and to appreciate it from a fan’s point of view.

“We figured we might have to go back every year, but to be coming back now with a filly in the race is just the neatest thing. It really is. We’re going to take it all in—win or lose—and enjoy this.”

Stanco, 66, bred Princess of Sylmar from a broodmare band of one mare. Today, he still has a one-mare band, but it’s a different mare. Raise the Kitty, by Kitten’s Joy, produced Jump for Joy, a maiden winner by eight lengths for Stanco.

“I’m not interested in doing any more breeding than that,” he said. “It’s a long process; it’s good, it’s fun, and we enjoy it, but we’re not getting crazy with the breeding aspect.”

Stanco prefers hanging with his friends and family and taking in a day at the races. To that end, he has purchased a home in Saratoga, and visits throughout the year, particularly, of course in summer.

“It’s the place,” he said. “It’s awesome being there and hanging out with friends and family. We do it all the time and always will. That’s the real fun of this.”

Asked if lightning can strike twice, Stanco quotes the late Chicago Cubs great Ernie Banks. “Let’s play two. Let’s see if we can win it again. She’s a tough filly and doesn’t mind getting the dirt thrown in her face.

“I have a real motivation to win this race because Kate Upton is giving out the Longines watch to the winner. That would be a really good day,” he said, paraphrasing Richard Dreyfuss from the film Let It Ride.

Stanco only hopes the sequel is as good as the original.