Have you ever heard of a Standardbred racehorse that has lost an eyelid, helped teach school kids, battled through pneumonia and fought hard on the track? No? Well then get to know Manley Stanley.

Manley Stanley is coming off back-to-back Cal Expo wins for owner/trainer Lisa Caposio and driver Rene Goulet – on both occasions defeating the heavily-favoured Deeply.

A seven-year-old homebred son of Panama Hanover out of the Sacramento mare Finale, Manley Stanley was a 1:59.4 winner at Cal Expo last season and it looks like his best work is still to come.

“Manley is a small, nice-looking horse just over 14 hands, but he’s strong and energetic,” Lisa related. “He is smart, and full of personality. He has a beautiful gait, and is nice to handle in a race or training trip.

“He has overcome several serious illnesses and injuries. On the farm as a two-year-old, he completely ripped his eyelid off and it was ugly and hard for me to look at. I really didn’t think the eye could be saved, but Dr. Kathy Jones amazingly stitched him up saving his eye.”

More drama was to come into the Manley Stanley story, according to Caposio.

“When he was gelded, Dr. Schloeder quickly noticed a complication, and we shipped Manley for emergency surgery by Dr. Muller at Caballos Equine Clinic.

“Then when he was four, in his third start in a California Sire Stakes, he cut the half in :58 and a piece not finishing well as I thought he should, and the next morning he had 106 temperature.

“I had blood work done, and had him scoped. Dr Schloeder pulled him through a difficult pneumonia that really affected him for about eight months.

“Last year coming out of his first win, he had a wall separation that closed the season for us. This meet Manley has pulled himself together, and we are enjoying our track time.”

It turns out Manley Stanley also has a second career going as he accompanies Lisa to her job as a teacher.

“He goes to school with me. Yes, he’s a teacher too! He teaches kids how to groom, wash, walk, lunge and hug a horse. It’s called extreme elective day, a day where we teach students about something we love, instead of the everyday Math, English, science or history curriculum.

“So of course, I load up Manley, along with Poncho the donkey, Dazzle the goat, Roxy the potbelly pig, Max the 106 pound dog and other animal ambassadors... shipping them to where I teach on the edge of the tough part of town.

“These kids haven’t ever touched a horse, but by the time they leave that one day many of them have a new passion for horses. You can see him on our Facebook Page called Camp Norwood Animals.”

You can also see Manley Stanley in action at Cal Expo on a weekly basis, the last two times ending up in a photo session with Capioso in the charmed circle.

Contention Runs Deep In Pair Of Opens

A $6,600 Open Pace and a $5,500 Filly and Mare Open Pace are the main events on Saturday night’s 12-race card at Cal Expo.

First post for the Watch and Wager LLC program is 6:10 p.m.

The Open Pace has lured a field of eight and racing secretary Robin Schadt had Im An Athlete, Bettors Promise and Gorgeous for Real draw for the outside three posts and they will leave the starting gate in that order.

Last week’s clash at the top rung saw Bettors Promise posting a 10-1 upset for owners Richard Morita and David Yamada, trainer Lino Pacheco and pilot Chip Lackey while doing his work from the rail.

Bettors Promise brushed to command before the half, withstood a strong challenge in the lane and came away for a length and half score in a lifetime-best 1:52 performance that evening.

Im An Athlete came into that event having won back-to-back Opens, but found himself with too work to do from the assigned No. 10 post that night. He has a much better draw this time around and looms large for owner Ronald Rettig-Zucchi, trainer Jessie Pacheco and driver James Kennedy.

Looking at the co-featured Distaff Open, the Kathie Plested-trained pair of Boozier Bruiser and Capitol Hill have been assigned the outside slots in the field of seven with Steve Wiseman and Mooney Svendsen guiding, respectively.

(Cal Expo)