The notice included no specifics.

“The terms of the settlement are to remain confidential,” explained Hollendorfer's attorney, Drew Couto.

DMTC president, Josh Rubinstein, confirmed the settlement in an emailed statement.

“The resolution of this litigation does not reflect the merit of or any acceptance of liability by any party,” Rubinstein wrote.

The 22nd District Agricultural Association, which manages and operates the Del Mar Fairgrounds, is also a defendant in the suit.     This resolution is the latest domino to fall in a sprawling series of cases filed by Hollendorfer after The Stronach Group (TSG) barred the trainer from its facilities in June of 2019. The company took the action after four of the trainer's horses were irreparably injured during Santa Anita's ill-fated 2018-2019 winter/spring meet.

This was a time when the track experienced a well-publicized spike in equine fatalities during an unusually wet spell. Hollendorfer has faced no formal regulatory sanctions for events that occurred during the meet.

Del Mar followed TSG's lead in barring Hollendorfer from its grounds, but the trainer successfully overturned the track's ban in court in July of that year.

Events from the summer of 2019 spawned a handful of different lawsuits, most of which are now resolved.

Last June, Hollendorfer and TSG-controlled subsidiary owners of Santa Anita Park and Golden Gate Fields reached a settlement, the details of which were similarly undisclosed. Hollendorfer has not started a runner at any TSG-owned facility since that original 2019 ban.

Last month, the Blood Horse reported that a San Diego Superior Court judge had dismissed Hollendorfer's case against the California Horse Racing Board (CHRB).

According to Couto, Hollendorfer intends to appeal that ruling.

“The court is aware that Mr. Hollendorfer will be appealing the decision in that case,” he said.

Hollendorfer has been an annual face at Del Mar since the summer of 2019, but at a significantly diminished presence compared to the halcyon years of his numerical dominance which led him to multiple leading trainer titles. Last summer at the track, he trained one winner from just 15 starts.

Filings with the San Diego Superior Court show that Hollendorfer has claimed several causes of action against the DMTC, mainly focused on the impacts from DMTC's actions on his business.

Among them, Hollendorfer argued that the DMTC's actions deliberately interfered with existing “contractual obligations” with several of his clients, and that it was done in part to protect the track's own bottom line.

Hollendorfer also claimed in court filings that the DMTC “conspired” with five other key California-focused industry organizations, including TSG and the Thoroughbred Owners of California (TOC), “to enact a group boycott that prevented Plaintiff from racing and stabling” horses in his care.

“The conspiring parties did so in order to prosper economically by avoiding responsibility and shift blame to Plaintiff for dangerous and inherent conditions at their racetracks. Primary objectives of the group boycott included the manipulation of public perception and deflection or misdirection public attention, scrutiny, and inquiries,” filings show.

Court documents show the DMTC pushing back against Hollendorfer's claims the track intentionally harmed his business, in part to protect its own economic interests. For example, the DMTC argues the trainer failed to prove the track had adequate prior knowledge of the trainer's “contractual relations” with his owners prior to banning him, including specific contractual details.

Court documents also show the DTSC countering Hollenderfer's claims the alleged group “boycott” was done to benefit the groups' members.

“There are no facts showing how DMTC or the District benefitted from the alleged group boycott,” filings state.

Hollendorfer sought to recover damages from DMTC for economic and reputational harm, filings show.

Hollendorfer's training operations have seen marked declines since TSG's ban was enacted in 2019. In 2018, he won 176 races and accrued over $7 million in earnings, according to Equibase. So far this year, he has won 14 races and won just under $670,000.

Over the weekend, a Monmouth Park press release detailed how the trainer had transferred 29 of his horses stabled at the track to long-time assistant Dan Ward, with a view to scaling back his operations to California only.

“I just want to concentrate on what I'm doing here in California,” Hollendorfer is quoted in the press release. “Dan and I have discussed for a while that he wanted a chance to go out on his own. Now seems like a pretty good time to do that.”

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Ward has overseen Hollendorfer's division at Monmouth Park and Oaklawn Park for the past four years.

“I just want to concentrate on what I'm doing here in California,” said Hollendorfer. “Dan and I have discussed for a while that he wanted a chance to go out on his own. Now seems like a pretty good time to do that.”

Hollendorfer said he expects to keep “12 to 15 horses” to race at Los Alamitos and Del Mar.

Ward, 64, spent 22 years as an assistant to Hall of Famer Bobby Frankel and has been Hollendorfer's assistant since 2007. He expects his official debut as the trainer of record to come next weekend at Monmouth Park. Entries have yet to be drawn for those Friday through Sunday cards.

“It's a great opportunity,” said Ward. “It's been a great experience working with Jerry. I'm grateful to be taking over for someone who has more than 7,700 wins. And I'm starting with 29 horses, not one or two, which you often do when you are on your own. It doesn't change what we do in the mornings with the horses. But now when I talk to owners they know the horses are in my name.”

A San Diego native, Ward said he intended to remain on the Monmouth Park-Oaklawn circuit, saying “we're established ourselves the past four years at both tracks. People know we're going to be there.”

He said “the timing is right – it's perfect timing” to go out on his own.

“It's been worth the wait,” he said.

Hollendorfer, who has a 6-6-7 line from 30 starts at Monmouth Park this year, said he is confident Ward is prepared for the opportunity he now has. “When he came to work for me I wanted someone who would be able to offer a good opinion on what was going on,” said Hollendorfer. “Dan certainly has the foundation to do that. It certainly seemed to work out for us. I have no doubt he will be successful.”

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Hollendorfer was initially considering Antigravity for the Haskell before deciding to opt instead for the $75,000 Tale of the Cat Stakes on July 25 at Monmouth Park. Those plans changed back on Monday, according to Dan Ward, who oversees Hollendorfer's division at Monmouth Park.

With the late addition of Antigravity, the Haskell field has grown to seven with the three Triple Crown runners-up (Mandaloun, Midnight Bourbon and Hot Rod Charlie), Following Sea, Pickin' Time and Basso all expected to start.

Antigravity is owned by Dennis January and Hollendorfer LLC.

“The owner (January) wants to enter,” said Ward. “He thinks running third or fourth in the Haskell is better than winning the stakes we were considering. He wants to take a shot because who knows when you will get another chance like this?”

Antigravity broke through in his 11th career start – and first ever at Monmouth Park – when he won a Maiden Special Weight race on June 6. He followed that by winning an allowance optional claimer on June 26, a race in which Haskell contender Basso finished sixth.

Those have been his only two tries at Monmouth Park after racing at Del Mar, Keeneland, Churchill Downs and Oaklawn Park.

David Cohen has been enlisted to ride.

“The horse is doing great,” said Ward. “He's doing super. You can see he has gotten more confidence with the two wins. And we know he likes the track.”

Antigravity worked 1:04 breezing for five furlongs on Sunday, with Ward saying “it was just a maintenance work. We weren't looking for too much.”

Antigravity sports a 2-2-2 line from seven starts this year and is 2-3-3 overall from his 12 career starts.

The post position draw for the 54th edition of the Haskell is 1 p.m. on Wednesday at Monmouth Park.

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Horses for John Sadler were scheduled to arrive at the Hot Springs, Ark., track on Sunday in advance of the 57-day meeting that is scheduled to begin Friday, Jan. 22. Sadler, in his Oaklawn debut, won 15 races in 2020 to finish fifth in the trainer standings. Horses for another Southern California-based trainer, Hall of Famer Jerry Hollendorfer, have been on the grounds since late December under the direction of his longtime assistant, Dan Ward. Hollendorfer wintered at Oaklawn for the first time in 2020 and recorded 12 victories to finish eighth in the standings.

“We finished good,” Ward said Sunday morning. “We were in the top 10. We ran a lot of horses and we stayed safe and finished up good.”

Hollendorfer has more horsepower this year, roughly 40 head, including several holdovers from the 2020 meeting and seven for a high-profile new client, Frank Stronach.

A 2008 Eclipse Award winner as the country's outstanding owner, Stronach has campaigned, among others, 2004 Horse of the Year Ghostzapper, champions Ginger Punch, Perfect Sting and Macho Uno, Breeders' Cup Classic winner Awesome Again and Preakness winner Red Bullet. Stronach also campaigned Spun Sugar, winner of the $500,000 Apple Blossom Handicap (G1) for older fillies and mares in 2006 at Oaklawn.

Stronach's 2021 Oaklawn contingent is headed by Green Light Go, who won the $200,000 Saratoga Special Stakes (G2) for 2-year-olds in 2019 at Saratoga when with trainer Jimmy Jerkens. Unraced since mid-May, Green Light Go has recorded two workouts at Oaklawn, the last a five-furlong move from the gate in 1:00.20 Wednesday.

“He's coming along good,” Ward said.

Sunny Dale, a three-time winner last year at Oaklawn, has also recorded two local works in advance of her 5-year-old debut. The well-traveled Sunny Dale ran fifth in the $125,000 Carousel Stakes for older female sprinters last April at Oaklawn and completed her 2020 campaign with a fifth-place finish in the $80,000 Floral Park Stakes Oct. 17 at Belmont Park.

“We freshened her up a little bit and she's doing good,” Ward said.

Another 2020 Oaklawn winner, Awesome Anywhere, could resurface late in the meeting, Ward said. Awesome Anywhere ran six furlongs in 1:08.76 to capture a starter-allowance race last March at Oaklawn and closed 2020 with a runner-up finish in the $100,000 Mr. Prospector Stakes Sept. 12 at Monmouth Park.

Hollendorfer entered seven horses for the first two days of racing, including Causeway Jones in an entry-level allowance sprint for 3-year-olds on Saturday. Hollendorfer and two partners privately purchased the Creative Cause colt following a 7 ½-length debut victory Dec. 18 at Remington Park. Causeway Jones also has two published works at Oaklawn.

“We noticed last year that we started running better once we worked a couple of times over the track,” Ward said. “We got here like (Jan. 16) and a lot of starters didn't even have a work over the track. We got here earlier and have gotten two or three breezes over the track – most of them – and I think that will help.”

Hollendorfer has 18 career victories at Oaklawn, including four stakes (all graded). The stakes victories include Blind Luck in the $300,000 Fantasy Stakes (G2) in 2010. Blind Luck was named the country's champion 3-year-old filly of 2010.

Southern California-based trainers Phil D'Amato and Peter Miller also have horses on the grounds in advance of the 2021 meet. They each won five races last year at Oaklawn.

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That was plan revealed by Dan Ward, Hollendorfer's longtime assistant, after the stable continued its strong Monmouth Park presence when heavily-favored Croatian cruised to victory in Saturday's featured $52,500 allowance optional claimer.

Ward, who has been with Hollendorfer the past 14 years after spending the previous 22 as an assistant to the late Bobby Frankel, has overseen the Hollendorfer runners at Monmouth while his boss kept tabs from California.

With two victories on Saturday's 10-race card, the Hollendorfer stable has won with three of seven starters during the abbreviated Meadowlands-at-Monmouth Park meet after going 14-for-50 during the regular Monmouth Park meet.

“We could not be happier about the way things have gone at Monmouth Park this year,” Ward said. “After this meet ends (Oct. 24) we're going to go to Churchill Downs for two months and then to Oaklawn through April and then we'll be back here.

“It's been fantastic. It's a safe track. You get all kinds of weather and the track was always safe. It has been a pleasure to train and race here this year.”

Ward was assigned 27 horses for Monmouth Park this year, and said the goal is to grow those numbers for next season.

“We're trying to build things up, so we intend to have even more horses when we come back here next year. We hope next year is even better here,” he said, “All I can tell you is that we're very pleased with the entire operation here. Jerry is very happy. So we hope to keep coming back and keep this as part of our regular routine every year.

Ward had not been to Monmouth Park since 1991, when he was an assistant to Frankel and Marquetry won the Philip H. Iselin Stakes that year.

The final week of the Thoroughbred season in New Jersey kicks off Wednesday, Oct. 21, with a nine-race card that features five turf races. Post time is 12:50 p.m. ET.

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It may be as eclectic a group of newcomers the track has ever featured as the Friday, July 3 opener – the start of Monmouth Park's 75th season – nears.

Hall of Famer Jerry Hollendorfer will have a solid presence on the Jersey Shore for the first time, with long-time assistant Dan Ward overseeing a string that he says will eventually number more than two dozen runners.

“Our horses fit well at Monmouth Park and the timing is perfect for us,” said Ward. “When the condition book came out it looked like a really good fit for the horses we have.”

Ward, who said he has not made an appearance at Monmouth Park since Marquetry ran in the 1991 Philip H. Iselin Stakes when he was an assistant to Bobby Frankel, said the decision to try Monmouth Park for an entire meet was done as part of a long-term plan.

Twenty of Hollendorfer's horses have already shipped into Monmouth Park from Churchill Downs “and we have races for all of them at Monmouth,” Ward said.

“We will be looking to claim some more and trying to pick up business,” he added.

Hollendorfer's outfit will look to be a factor the very first day, with Awesome Anywhere slated to go in the $75,000 Oceanport Centennial Stakes, the opening-day feature. The 6-year-old gelding won a starter allowance race at Oaklawn Park two starts back.

Antonio Machado isn't a familiar name in this part of the country, but the 42-year-old hopes that changes with his first summer at Monmouth.

Machado, Tampa Downs-based, was the youngest trainer ever to win the Venezuelan Triple Crown when he did so with El Gran Cesar in 2008. He won 99 races, 18 of them graded stakes, in Venezuela between 2006-2012.

He said it was time to take on a new challenge, which is why he has decided to try Monmouth Park this summer.

“I wanted to experience training at a prestigious racetrack where the horse racing would challenge me,” said Machado, who started in the sport by working in a stable in La Rinconada racetrack in Caracas while also attending training school. “So many owners, trainers, jockeys and amazing horses have raced on these grounds, and that for me is simply amazing.

“I want to keep on competing at the maximum level and show that I can be there with top trainers and win races.”

His intention, he said, is to make the Tampa Downs/Monmouth Park circuit part of his yearly routine, saying he is “hoping that we will continue with this trend for many years to come.”

Michael Moore has been Parx-based since he started training in 2013, but the makeup of his current stable made Monmouth Park a logical choice for this summer. He hopes to have more than 20 claimers and allowance horses on the grounds, with the more prominent among them being Jersey-breds.

“The biggest reason I came here is because I have some good Jersey-breds and the money is so good for Jersey-breds at Monmouth Park,” said the 49-year-old Moore, a Rutgers University graduate. “It's a little bit of an adjustment because I live five minutes from Parx and the drive here is over an hour every day. But this is such a beautiful place. It's really horse friendly and the people care about racing here.”

Moore, coming off his best year with 35 winners in 2019, was 2-for-10 at Monmouth last year with shippers. His wife, Elizabeth, helps run the barn.

“Everything seems to be working out well,” he said. “I just hope to do well when the racing starts.”

Mid-Atlantic fixture Hugh McMahon is among the other newcomers who will have a string of horses stabled at Monmouth Park this summer.

Monmouth Park's 37-day meet will consist of live racing Friday, July 3, through Sunday, Sept. 27. Post time on Fridays will be 5 p.m. (except Sept. 4, Kentucky Oaks Day, when it will be 12:50 p.m.). Saturday and Sunday posts will be 12:50 p.m., with the exception of a noon first race post time on July 18, when the $1 million TVG.com Haskell Stakes serves as the headliner on the card.

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