Stan the Man rerouted to Queens County Stakes

OZONE PARK, N.Y. – Stan the Man was entered each of the first two times the Fall Highweight was drawn. He was not entered for Sunday as his connections will now look to run him in the $125,000 Queens County Stakes going 1 1/8 miles here on Dec. 21.

Trainer John Terranova believes Stan the Man is more effective going longer. He said he was actually going to use the Fall Highweight as a stepping-stone to the Queens County. Stan the Man hasn’t run since he finished fifth behind Catalina Cruiser in the Grade 2 True North at Belmont on June 7.

Stan the Man has recorded four of his five wins over Aqueduct’s main track, at distances from seven furlongs to 1 1/8 miles.

“I didn’t want to miss stretching him out in the Queens County,” Terranova said. “Three-quarters isn’t his game. Route races like the Queens County is more than likely where he’ll be throughout the winter.”

On Thursday, Stan the Man drilled five furlongs in 1:00.60, the fastest of 19 works at the distance over the Belmont Park training track.

Suspensions for five riders

The New York stewards handed out suspensions to a bevy of jockeys during the Aqueduct meet, with several riders planning to serve their days Dec. 20-22, the precursor to the holiday break (Dec. 23-27) in New York.

Kendrick Carmouche and Jose Ortiz were each cited for careless riding in the same race – the third on Nov. 21. Carmouche was disqualified from first, while Jose Ortiz was actually elevated from second to first in that turf race.

Manny Franco, cited for careless riding in the sixth race on Nov. 11, will also serve his days Dec. 20-22.

Other jockeys suspended included Declan Carroll, who will serve his three days next Thursday through Saturday, and Benjamin Hernandez, who will serve three days Sunday, Thursday, and Friday.