Monmouth Park

Edited Press Release In a pair of management moves at Monmouth Park in Oceanport, New Jersey, William Anderson has been named President and Chief Operating Officer and John F. Heims, Esq., will take over as General Manager in addition to his role as In-House Counsel, the track announced Saturday. "Bill and John have been an instrumental part of our management team since we began operating the racetrack back in 2012," said Dennis Drazin, Chairman and CEO of Darby Development LLC, lessee and operator of Monmouth Park. "While their leadership has...

On June 26, trainer Jorge Duarte, Jr was informed that a horse he trained named Happy Cat (Kitten's Joy) had tested positive for methamphetamine following a May 22nd race at Delaware Park. Duarte was indeed concerned, but he insisted he had done nothing wrong, that cooler heads would prevail and that he would not be penalized. Three-and-a-half months later, he has already started serving what could be a lengthy suspension. The problem is that when there is a drug positive, Duarte says the position of the Horseracing Integrity and Welfare...

A filly by Gun Runner (hip 24) got the Keeneland September Yearling Sale off to a quick start Monday when selling for $1.5 million to the bid of Doug Scharbauer. Consigned by Gainesway, the chestnut is out of Grade I winner Dream Dancing (Tapit) and was bred by John Oxley. The filly's 2-year-old half-sister Dreamaway (Flameaway) is now two for two after winning the Colleen Stakes at Monmouth Park in July.

After a dozen years as lessee of Monmouth Park Racetrack, the New Jersey Thoroughbred Horsemen's Association (NJTHA), in conjunction with the New Jersey Sports & Exposition Authority (NJSEA) has transferred the racetrack, effective immediately, to Dennis Drazin's Darby Development LLC, under a new 85-year lease agreement, the track said in a release on Thursday. Darby had been the operator of the racetrack under the NJTHA and will now take full custody of the grounds with sights set on further expansion. "Let me start by thanking Governor Murphy for entrusting me,...

An $800 NHC & BCBC Handicapping contest, with cash prizes also awarded to the top 10 finishers, will be available online and onsite at Monmouth Park on Saturday, Aug. 24, the track said in Wednesday release. TVG, 4NJBETS and Xpressbet are the available online options for contest players. There is a non-refundable entry fee of $400 and a tournament bankroll of $400 for races at Monmouth Park and Saratoga, with contestants required to wager on a minimum of five of the local races of at least $80 each. For TVG...

1st-SAR, $100K, Msw, 2yo, f, 6f, 1:10 p.m. ET. BRILAND (McKinzie), the second to race after SW Miuccia (Mitole), will have her turn for trainer Chad Brown and the ownership group of Gainesway, Bradley Thoroughbreds, Cambron Equine and Alan Northcutt. Featured in TDN's Summer Breezes segment, the $675,000 buy at OBS April was initially purchased for $200,000 by Scoot Stables during Keeneland September. Briland's dam, Bay Harbor (Speightstown), is herself out of GSW Our Khrysty (Newfoundland). This second dam--a half-sister to GI Whitney Handicap hero Bullsbay (Tiznow)--also produced GISW Grace...

7th-DMR, $75K, Msw, 2yo, 5 1/2f, 8:02 p.m. ET. Conditioned by John Sadler, Don Alberto homebred UNIQUE POWER (Into Mischief) debuts for his dam--champion older dirt female Unique Bella (Tapit)--who was acquired by the stable for $400,000 at the 2015 Keeneland September Sale. Her own dam is GI Breeders' Cup Ladies' Classic heroine Unrivaled Belle (Unbridled's Song). Mandy Pope's Whisper Hill Farm took this mare home for $3.8 million at the 2016 Keeneland November Sale. Unrivaled Belle's half-sister, Lemon Belle (Lemon Drop Kid), is responsible for GIII Gotham Stakes champ...

Monmouth Park has cancelled its eight-race card scheduled for Friday, Aug. 2 due to excessive heat, the track said in a release Friday morning. Racing is scheduled to resume on Saturday, with the Tyro Stakes for 2-year-olds at five furlongs on the grass headlining the card. Earlier in the day, Colonial Downs said via X that they would be pushing back their start time because of the temperatures. First post was rescheduled for 5:30 p.m. ET.

Monmouth Park will host a $500 onsite and online handicapping contest on Saturday, Aug. 3, with two NHC seats, two BCBC spots and cash available for contestants, the track said in a release Wednesday. Online options to participate are TVG, 4NJBETS and Xpressbet. Onsite registration will be from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. ET on Saturday on the first floor of the Clubhouse. For TVG and 4NJBets online player registration ends at 3 p.m. ET on Friday. Xpressbet players can register through 12:50 p.m. ET on Saturday. There is a...

COLLEEN S., $102,000, Monmouth, 7-28, 2yo, f, 5fT, :55.64, fm. 1--DREAMAWAY, 118, f, 2, by Flameaway 1st Dam: Dream Dancing (GISW, $483,271), by Tapit 2nd Dam: To Dream About, by Monarchos 3rd Dam: Beautiful Pleasure, by Maudlin 1ST BLACK TYPE WIN. O/B-John C. Oxley (KY); T-Wesley A. Ward; J-Paco Lopez. $60,000. Lifetime Record: 2-2-0-0, $107,740. 2--Lemonpeppasteppa, 118, f, 2, Caravaggio--Saranda, by Smart Strike. ($65,000 2yo '24 OBSAPR). 1ST BLACK TYPE. O-Julian De Mora, Jr.; B-New Horizons Bloodstock LLC (KY); T-Jorge Delgado. $20,000. 3--Me Governor, 118, f, 2, The Factor--Mocha Chip,...

   In this series, the TDN takes a look at notable successes of European-based sires in North America. This week's column is highlighted by the victory of former multiple graded stakes hero Public Sector in the Great White North.   Kingman's Public Sector Wins In Canada Michael and Jules Iavarone and co-owner Saffie Joseph, Jr.'s Public Sector (GB) (Kingman {GB}) visited the winner's circle for the first time since taking Belmont's GII Hill Prince Stakes in the autumn of 2021 when capturing a Woodbine contest in July (video). The 6-year-old...

Trainer Chad Brown has long stated that a victory in the GI Travers S., not far from home in Mechanicville, would be one of the crowning moments of what will be a Hall of Fame career. 'TDN Rising Star' Sierra Leone (Gun Runner) is the barn's main hope for the centerpiece of the Saratoga meeting and he can take one giant step towards fulfilling his trainer's dream as the likely favorite in Saturday's GII Jim Dandy Stakes. The colt, who topped the 2022 Fasig-Tipton Saratoga Sale not far from the...