Brown back at work one day following arrest

SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. – Less than 24 hours after being charged with obstruction of breathing in a case involving a female acquaintance, trainer Chad Brown was back at work Friday morning at Saratoga, overseeing the preparation of his vast stable for upcoming races.

Brown, accompanied at the track Friday by his girlfriend Kelly Medina – a third party and potential witness to the incident with the former acquaintance – watched horses breeze on the main track and then later over the Oklahoma turf course. Brown declined to comment on his legal troubles, but did say he was “happy to be back training.”

“I have an incredible team. We’re really focused on finishing the meet strong,” Brown added.

Brown entered Friday’s card as the Saratoga meet leader in wins with 27 and had a bevy of runners over the next three days, including seven horses in four races on Friday. On Saturday, he was to send out Gerrymander in the Grade 1 Alabama and four of the six horses – after expected scratches of Canisy and Koala Princess – in the Grade 2 Lake Placid for 3-year-olds on turf. On Sunday, Brown has horses entered in six of the 10 races.

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On Wednesday night, Brown was arrested at his home by Saratoga police and charged with obstruction of breathing of a former female acquaintance. After spending the night in jail, Brown was arraigned early Thursday morning, when Kayla Potter, the assistant district attorney, said that Brown pushed a woman down a flight of stairs at his home, pinned her to the ground, and tried to choke her, according to local reports.

Brown pleaded not guilty and was released on $2,500 bail and a $5,000 bond. His lawyer, Joseph Gerstenzang, told the judge that the woman had broken into his house and that Brown was defending himself.

According to sources, the alleged victim is an exercise rider and she was at one time romantically involved with Brown.

Brown is due back in court Sept. 2.

During turf works Friday, Brown was accompanied by Peter Brant and Michael Dubb, two of his main owners. On Thursday, during the races, Brant had expressed his support for Brown based on details of the incident that he had been told.

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“He’s not a person that would do something like that unless he was provoked,” Brant said. “I think he was protecting himself. I think he’s a smart guy with a lot of sense. I was told he was woken up by this person and [she] started to hit him. He was obviously just protecting himself.”

Brant added that Brown “has to have a right to have his day in court.”

On Thursday, the judge in the case granted an order of protection to the alleged victim allowing only “incidental contact” between herself and Brown, citing the fact that both work on the Saratoga backstretch. Daily Racing Form is withholding the name of the alleged victim, who declined to comment Thursday morning.

According to New York’s penal code, “obstruction of breathing” is defined as applying pressure on the throat or neck of a person with the intent to impede normal breathing or circulation of the blood, or blocking the nose or mouth of a person with the same intent. A Class A misdemeanor carries a maximum penalty of one year in jail or three years of probation.

Brown is a four-time Eclipse Award-winning trainer who earlier this year won his second Preakness with Early Voting, one of three horses he is planning to start in the Grade 1 Runhappy Travers along with Zandon and Artorius.

For the year, Brown has won 168 races from 571 starts, with purse earnings of $19.8 million, highest in North America. He has trained 10 Eclipse Award winners.

Brown is divorced and has two daughters.

–additional reporting by Matt Hegarty