Hollendorfer now allowed to race in New York; sending King Jack to H. Allen Jerkens Stakes

SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. - Hall of Fame trainer Jerry Hollendorfer is permitted to run horses at New York Racing Association tracks and is planning to ship King Jack here next week for the Grade 1, $500,000 H. Allen Jerkens Stakes on Aug. 24.

“We’re coming,” Hollendorfer said Thursday. “It was relayed to me we would be able to nominate and run.”

Patrick McKenna, a NYRA spokesman, said, “Jerry Hollendorfer is a licensed trainer in New York State who is permitted to ship in and enter horses to race at all NYRA tracks including Saratoga Race Course.”

Earlier this year, Hollendorfer was granted stalls by NYRA for the Belmont Park spring/summer meet and Saratoga. He shipped about six horses to Belmont in May and ran two, winning an allowance with Rowayton on June 6 and finishing fifth with Oggonis in an allowance on June 7.

On June 22, Hollendorfer was banned from stabling or racing at tracks owned by The Stronach Group - including Santa Anita and Golden Gate Fields where he is typically based - after having six racing or training related fatalities at those two tracks over a six-month period.

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On June 23, the NYRA put out a statement that said it would keep its commitment to allot Hollendorfer stalls for the Belmont and Saratoga meets.

Six days later, however, Hollendorfer said a NYRA attorney informed his attorney, Drew Couto, that any horse Hollendorfer entered under his name would be scratched. On June 29, the NYRA declined comment on Hollendorfer’s status.

Hollendorfer’s trainer’s license, issued by the New York State Gaming Commission was then and is now in good standing.

The horses Hollendorfer had based in New York were all owned by Larry Best. After learning that Hollendorfer would not be permitted to race in New York, Best retained Don Chatlos - Hollendorfer’s New York-based assistant - to train privately for him. Chatlos has made five starts between Belmont and Saratoga, two with Rowayton, who is also pointing to the Allen Jerkens.

Recently, Hollendorfer won a legal battle with Del Mar, a Southern California track that initially barred him from stabling and running there, allowing him to both stable and race there. Hollendorfer is currently in litigation to try and race at Golden Gate, which opened a meet on Thursday

King Jack, a son of Jimmy Creed, won his debut at Santa Anita on June 1 by 3 1/4 lengths. He made his next start at Del Mar on July 17 - racing under the name of Dan Ward, Hollendorfer’s longtime assistant - winning a first-level allowance by 1 1/4 lengths.

“His last race was really good,” Hollendorfer said. “When he hit the line, he kept going.”

The Jerkens is expected to attract a large field led by Shancelot, the super-impressive winner of the Grade 2 Amsterdam here on July 21. Others pointing to the race include Borracho, Hog Creek Hustle, Mind Control, Nitrous, Rowayton, Super Comet, and Twelfth Labour.

“This is a Grade 1, our horse is doing good, we want to take a chance to get a graded placing or graded win,” Hollendorfer said. “We understand it’s a pretty good field.”