By Mark Ratzky, publicity – Cal Expo Harness
Manley Stanley is coming off
back-to-back wins for owner/trainer Lisa Caposio and driver Rene Goulet, on
both occasions defeating heavily-favored Deeply.
A 7-year-old homebred son of
Panama Hanover out of the Sacramento mare Finale, Manley Stanley was a 1:59 4/5
winner here 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 2-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 4, 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 here 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 I’m An Athlete, Bettor’s
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 Bettor’s 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.
Bettor’s 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 flat performance that
evening.
I’m 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.
