by Ken Weingartner, Harness Racing Communications

Ken Weingartner

Freehold, NJ — Melady’s Monet is painting a picture of success this winter at the Meadowlands and the 6-year-old trotter’s connections hope his artistry continues into the upcoming stakes season.

But no matter what decisions the horse’s connections make in the future, they will be secondary to the choices that led to his present.

Melady’s Monet, who has won five of six starts since arriving at the Meadowlands in November and is the 4-5 morning line favorite in Friday’s Open Handicap, is a son of stallion Revenue S out of the mare Keystone Melady. The mare was owned by Luca and Ester Balenzano when she suffered a career-ending fracture at Pompano Park two days before Christmas 2005.

The injury was severe and veterinarians recommended euthanizing Keystone Melady, but Luca Balenzano wanted to try to save the mare. Keystone Melady underwent successful surgery and the Balenzanos decided to keep her as a broodmare.

Melady’s Monet has won 24 of 88 career races and earned $420,183.

“She was special, she really was,” Ester Balenzano said. “She would always give you everything she had every time she raced. We were told to put her down (following the accident) but Luca wouldn’t stand for it.

“It really is a miracle.”

The couple’s first two breeding attempts resulted in one horse making it to the races, but little success. The Balenzanos were ready to give up on the idea, but friend Tom Faulhaber suggested breeding the mare to Revenue S. The result was Melady’s Monet.

“It was getting to the point where we said we were getting too old for this and maybe we should adopt her out, (but) we thought we’d give it one more shot,” Ester said. “We were lucky enough to get (Melady’s Monet). He is a blessing.”

Melady’s Monet has won 24 of 88 career races and earned $420,183 for the Balenzanos’ Melady Enterprises LLC. As a 3-year-old, then in the stable of trainer Taylor Gower, the trotter won the New Jersey Sire Stakes Green Acres championship at Freehold and in subsequent seasons found success in the Open Handicaps at Yonkers.

In September, Melady’s Monet arrived in the stable of trainer Kevin McDermott. In his first start for McDermott, the gelding finished second to Bee A Magician in a conditioned handicap at Harrah’s Philadelphia, kicking off a string of 13 races in which he has finished worse than second only once. He established his career mark of 1:52 in November at the Big M.

“Amy Allen at Gilcrest Training Center broke him for me,” Ester said. “She did a fabulous job and from the very beginning she said to me that this is one special colt.

USTA/Ken Weingartner photos

Melady’s Monet, pictured with caretaker Nelson Munoz, is 4-5 on the morning line in Friday’s Open Handicap at The Meadowlands.

“It’s been unbelievable to see him blossom the way he has. Not that I ever had a doubt, but you never think your horse fits in with the upper Open trotters. I know right now he’s not racing with all the top-caliber trotters, but (driver) Tim Tetrick said he belongs with the best and we should stake him to the top races this year.”

The plan is to keep Melady’s Monet near McDermott’s base in New Jersey, but make the horse eligible to events such as the TVG Free For All Series, John Cashman Jr. Memorial and Crawford Farms Trot.

“I want to keep him at home,” Ester said. “I really don’t want to ship him. I’m very protective of him. I don’t just think of this year; I hope he’s another Arch Madness. I want to race him until he’s 8, 9, 10. I always tell Kevin, I want to protect this horse.

“I plan on giving him a little time off in the spring. I want him to be fresh for the races that are coming up in the late spring and early summer.”

Melady’s Monet enters Friday’s Open Handicap off a three length victory over Take My Picture in 1:55.1 on Jan. 30 at the Meadowlands. It was the horse’s first start in 28 days, a layoff necessitated by a quarter crack.

“The owners wanted to give him time and get him right,” McDermott said. “He’s been a different horse since. The owners deserve all the credit. They love this horse. They did right by saving the mare and they deserve what they got.

“He’s just an incredible horse.”