by Rich Fisher, USTA Web Newsroom Senior Correspondent

Rich Fisher

Trenton, NJ — When a horse is as demanding as Table Talk, she better be good.

Trainer Bart Dalious thinks she is.

Dalious is getting Table Talk prepped for Saturday’s C$457,500 Fan Hanover Stakes for 3-year-old female pacers at Mohawk Racetrack. Table Talk, who was winless in her first eight career starts, has won two consecutive races and five of her last nine.

But make no mistake, she is a handful.

“She’s kind of temperamental, she demands everything,” Dalious said with a laugh. “When you come into the barn she’s the first one you have to mess with. She has a heck of a personality, she demands attention. Keeping her happy is tough.

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Table Talk was a neck winner over Major Dancer in their Fan Hanover elimination on June 7.

“If you don’t pay attention to her right away she starts kicking and tearing the walls down. After breakfast, you walk into the barn, you’ve got to do something with her first or she’ll start pawing, kicking at the gate. She’s a friendly type of mare but you’ve got to mess with her all the time; brush her, turn her out. Maybe I’ve spoiled her a little bit, but that’s just her. I’ve got a lot of nicks on my shoulders and arms where she bit me.”

But the trainer knows it’s all for the cause.

“She’s an adventure, she’ll make you pull your hair out,” he said. “But you have to treat her like that to get results, that’s for sure.”

And he has been getting results.

Owned by Frank Deliberti’s Wiz Kids Stable, Table Talk was purchased as a yearling for $3,500 at the Standardbred Horse Sale in Harrisburg and has made $169,238. She is by stallion Bettor’s Delight out of the mare Place At The Table, who is a full sister to multiple-stakes-winner Armbro Amoretto.

Table Talk won a division of the New York Sire Stakes on May 30 and won her Fan Hanover elimination by a neck over Major Dancer at 37-1 odds. She has been building on a solid ending to last year, when she finished the season by winning the Matron Stakes at Dover Downs.

“She was kind of green at the beginning of last year, which all 2-year-olds will be,” Dalious said. “She had some bad races, a couple of blind switches, some bad draws. But she’s kind of matured over time.”

Table Talk also is staked to the Mistletoe Shalee and Dalious supplemented her to the Breeders Crown.

“I staked her up pretty good this year hoping she would come back good after her finish last year,” Dalious said. “So far, so good.”

Table Talk is being driven by Jim Marohn Jr., who has driven the filly four times and notched three wins. Despite her diva-like attitude in the barn, Table Talk is easy to deal with for the driver.

“She’s fine and relaxes on the track, and training down and stuff,” Dalious said. “She’s not hot or anything like that. She’s actually a smart horse and I think she’s got a big heart and a lot of will on the racetrack. A lot of heart, and a lot of talent go with it.

“She’s sound, and she’s managed to stay healthy, so that’s a good thing. I’ve never had to do any vet work on her.”

Dalious and Marohn got to pick their post for Saturday, and Dalious told the driver he always had pretty good luck out of the third or fourth spot. Marohn chose the three hole.

“If we can have a little bit of racing luck, I think we can win the race,” Dalious said. “I hate to jinx ourselves by saying that, but we do need luck.”

As for the season, Dalious said “I’m expecting a pretty good year out of her.”

Which will make all that special attention worth it.

Following is the Fan Hanover field in post order with drivers, trainers and morning line: 1. Nat A Virgin, Rick Zeron, Dustin Jones, 7-2; 2. Uffizi Hanover, David Miller, Jimmy Takter, 3-1; 3. Table Talk, Jim Marohn Jr., Bart Dalious, 5-1; 4. Take That Hanover, Mike Saftic, Jack Darling, 10-1; 5. Bahama Blue, Mario Baillargeon, Carl Jamieson, 15-1; 6. Mamas Fallen Angel, Yannick Gingras, Norm Parker, 7-1; 7. Fancy Desire, Ron Pierce, Kevin Carr, 8-1; 8. Rock N Roll Xample, James MacDonald, Shawn Robinson, 15-1; 9. Major Dancer, Brian Sears, Casie Coleman, 8-1; 10. Beach Gal, Tim Tetrick, Dave Menary, 10-1.