Stan the Man shows no rust off layoff in Queens County

Stan the Man returned from a six-month layoff in style, edging Adventist by a neck to earn his first career stakes victory in the $125,000 Queens County Saturday at Aqueduct.

Stan the Man ($7.40), a 5-year-old gelding trained by John Terranova for Long Lake Stable, was most recently seen finishing fifth in the Grade 2 True North Stakes on June 7 at Belmont. He began this year with a pair of allowance-optional claiming wins. He then finished sixth in the listed Symie Stakes at Aqueduct – a race won by eventual Breeders' Cup Classic winner Vino Rosso – and second by a neck to Nicodemus in the Grade 3 Westchester Stakes at Belmont before the True North.

The complexion of the Queens County changed out of the gate, when favored Major Cabbie stumbled and lost rider Junior Alvarado, leaving six horses in the hunt. Both the horse and rider walked off the track.

Bon Raison had a clear lead on the field through an opening half in 47.45 seconds, followed by Han Sense, with Stan the Man and jockey Dylan Davis on the latter's hip in third.

Han Sense assumed the lead from a tiring Bon Raison into the stretch, but Davis tipped Stan the Man out three wide on the far turn for a clear run, and set his mount down near the quarter pole. Stan the Man wore down a stubborn Han Sense, then held off Adventist, who rallied well after sitting last after a half.

"I didn't know the horse stumbled out of there and lost the rider until we got to the backside and I saw the loose horse on the outside," Davis said. "Once I saw that, I was really relaxed, as he was one of our main competitors. I moved when I wanted to and really had him in a good rhythm. He got a little [tired] close to the wire, but he should improve off of that. John did a great job getting him ready off the layoff."

The final time for 1 1/8 miles was 1:50.72.

After Stan the Man and Adventist, it was 1 1/2 lengths back to Han Sense, who held off Backsideofthemoon by a head for third. They were followed by Roaming Union and the fading Bon Raison.