It wasn’t the greatest journey, but JK Standingovation made the best of it, rallying home to a win at The Meadowlands Saturday, Feb. 25, just a tick off his career best time. The Indiana sired gelding scored his second win of 2023 in 1:51.2.
JK Standingovation and Joe Bongiorno rally to their second straight win at The Meadowlands Sat. Feb. 25 despite being parked the entire mile.
JK Standingovation was the favorite of the field and when the gate folded, Joe Bongiorno left with some speed but was overtaken by several others to both sides of him for the top spot. Tuffenuftowearpink and Jordan Stratton grabbed the top spot leaving JK Standingovation parked out in fourth through the first quarter in :26.3. Bongiorno searched for a hole but there was no where to go, so he sat patiently with JK Standingovation on the outside through the half in :54.4.
Heading to the three-quarters, JK Standingovation began to move up slowly, hoping to flush some cover, but once again, that didn’t happen past the pole in 1:23.3. Heading into the stretch, the field was tightly bunched with only five lengths separating the front from the back.
In the stretch, JK Standingovation appeared to be losing some momentum, but he hit another gear and rolled right on by his opponents to win by one and one-quarter length. Caughtinalandslide finished second over Tuffenufftowearpink. Less than five lengths separated the top six finishers in the $12,500 conditioned pace.
JK Standingovation paid $3.40 for the win. The JK Endofanera four-year-old is owned by Ben Mondello and JB Racing. Jennifer Bongiorno trains the gelding, who was bred and raised at Victory Hill Farm in LaGrange, Ind.
JK Standingovation is now two for four in 2023. Overall, he has eight career wins in 36 career starts with more than $60,000 on his card. His career best time of 1:51.1 was taken last year at Harrah’s Hoosier Park in 1:51.1. He joined the Bongiorno Stable at the end of the summer last year, and his last two wins are the first ones for his new connections.
JK Standingovation has quite an impressive pedigree. He is a half brother to Rockin Speed, who has a mark of 1:49.1 and more than $450,000 in earnings and is still racing. The family, whose dam is the Always a Virgin brood mare Safta Perry, has all made it to the races with four of four foals taking marks. There is a yearling filly this year that is unnamed that will most likely be in the sales this fall.