Navarro, Drawing Away Stable team up

HALLANDALE BEACH, Fla. – Jorge Navarro said Friday he’s been hired by Drawing Away Stable to work as its primary trainer.

Navarro has approximately 70 horses under his care, including the three-time Grade 1 winner Private Zone. He has won 32 races during the 2014-15 Gulfstream Park championship meet, putting him second behind only perennial leader Todd Pletcher.

“The deal we made is that I will not take any horses Drawing Away currently has with other trainers,” said Navarro. “I will claim or buy new horses and build up the stable in that manner.”

Phil Serpe, Bruce Brown, and Abigail Adsit are all training horses for Drawing Away.

Navarro, who has been based at Gulfstream Park West throughout the winter, said he will ship north around the first of May to Monmouth Park, with the hopes of expanding into New York.

“This is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity, and I’m going to take the chance, test the waters, and see how things go,” said the 40-year-old Navarro.

Drawing Away recently severed relations with trainer David Jacobson. That team has won more races on the New York Racing Association circuit over the last three years than any other owner-trainer combination.

Navarro said one reason he plans to stay in south Florida through the next month is to allow Private Zone to prepare for his next start, now likely to come in the Grade 1 Churchill Downs Sprint on Kentucky Derby Day.

“He’s doing well here, and I don’t want to change his routine before the next race,” said Navarro.

Private Zone finished second behind Honor Code while making his first start for Navarro in the Grade 2 Gulfstream Park Handicap this month.