Monkey Man, who couldn’t get out of his own way while preparing for the races, had it all together Tuesday at The Meadows when he captured his division of a $100,000 Pennsylvania Stallion Series stake.
When Monkey Man was training down, he was so fumbly that Mike Palone, who conditions the Glidemaster-Armbro Vanity gelding for Brian Gillespie, wondered if he ever would learn his trade.
“He’s been a project,” Mike Palone said. “He made a ton of breaks, so we put hopples on him and gelded him. Even a month ago, we still didn’t think we had him figured out. Never in a million years did I think he would be able to leave, then come from behind like he did without making a mistake. He’s come a long way. Maybe he’s just a bad practice player.”
There was no monkey business in his July 10 career debut when he won a stallion series split. Tuesday, he showed some determination, hanging tough when passed by Who Wants Soup yet roaring by him in the Lightning Lane to score for Tony Hall in 1:59.1. Mac Kemp rallied for second, while Who Wants Soup saved show.
Doncango had an easier time of it with a front-end victory in 1:59.1 that kept him unbeaten in two career starts. The pocket-sitting Broadway Phantom was second, with Lanes Caviar third.
“He’s got ability,” said winning trainer Jim Campbell. “I don’t think he’s ready to go in 1:55 right now, but I believe he’ll get there. He’s a little slow coming along, but what I like about him is, he knows how to win.”
Fashion Farms owns the homebred son of Donato Hanover-B Cor Tamgo.
Fly Past Hanover provided the stake’s tote board fireworks when he shot the Lightning Lane for Dick Stillings and upset in 2:00.1 at a juicy 42-1. G Force Hanover was 1-1/4 lengths back in second while Poppy Sydney Ridge completed the ticket.
Winning conditioner William Daugherty, Jr., a fixture at the Pennsylvania Fairs, gave $17,500 — the most he’s ever paid for a yearling — for the Cantab Hall-Flexible Spending gelding.
“He’s a Cantab Hall and a Hanover horse, and I thought maybe I could find something a little better for the upper classes,” Daugherty explained. “He’s been good to me at the fairs; I’ve been protecting him a little bit. He’s lazy and immature. I wear a mask on him because he’s a little flighty. But we got a little racing luck, and who better to put in the bike than Dick Stillings?
The event for two-year-old colt and gelding trotters was contested over five divisions, with Uriel (2:01) and Dominum Deo (1:59.4( also taking $20,000 splits. Dave Palone enjoyed a stakes double with Doncango and Uriel among his five wins on the 15-race card.
In the $20,000 Preferred Handicap Trot, Big And Little overcame the assigned eight-hole with a strong front-end victory in 1:53.4 for Brian Zendt, trainer Bill Zendt and owner Gary Saul. Unefoisdansmavie stalked the leader the entire mile but fell a length short, with TSM Photo Bugger third. The five-year-old SJs Caviar-Penn Peachi Lane gelding extended his lifetime bankroll to $250,020. It was one of three wins on the card for Brian Zendt.
Stake racing continues Wednesday at The Meadows with four divisions of the Florida Pro, a $260,444 Pennsylvania Sires Stake for freshman colt and gelding trotters. First post is 6:55 p.m.
(The Meadows)