Leonard Green | Horse Racing Free Tips

DJ Stables Buys Majority Interest in Masseto

Len Green's DJ Stable has purchased a majority interest in Masseto (GB) (Territories {Ire}), who is scheduled to start in Tuesday's G2 Coventry S. at Royal Ascot. The 2-year-old colt will race in the name of DJ Stable, and will continue to be trained by Donnacha O'Brien with minority partners involved in the ownership.

Masseto, a debut winner at Navan Apr. 25, was second in the G3 GAIN Marble Hill S. in his second outing over heavy ground as the 15-8 favorite. He was a 62,000 gns Tattersalls December Foal and a 65,000 gns Tattersalls Book 2 October Yearling.

“As an entrepreneur, I study patterns and seek out business opportunities,” said Len Green of the purchase. “About four years ago, we noticed that European-based horses who journeyed to the United States were successfully competing in some of the top graded stakes turf races. We wanted to know why; was it the training regimen, their pedigrees, the way they were raised, or a combination of those factors?

“After months of thorough analytics and evaluations , we felt ready to invest in a handful of European horses,” Green continued. “We currently own seven Irish-breds and, with the assistance of bloodstock agent Kim Valerio, are aggressively seeking out talented horses on a worldwide scale.”

“Over the past four decades, we've been fortunate to compete in some of the top races in North America, ranging from the Breeders' Cup to the Kentucky Derby. But we have never owned a horse good enough to enter at Royal Ascot, and feel privileged to have Masseto represent our colors in the Coventry S.”

Jon Green, the General Manager of DJ Stable, added, “Masseto is exactly the type of physical athlete you look for in a Thoroughbred. He has an effortless way of running, is a long strider and displays a very professional demeanor. His presence and physical gifts jump off the video. I can honestly say that there are few horses I have ever watched with such awe and admiration.”

Masseto is named for a Super Tuscan wine produced in the Bolgheri region of Italy.

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Son Of Breeders’ Cup Winner Bar Of Gold Debuts Friday At Belmont Park

Hall of Fame trainer Mark Casse expressed excitement for the debut of the well-bred Coinage in Friday's opening race at Belmont Park; a five-furlong sprint for state-bred juveniles on Big Sandy.

By Tapit, Coinage is out of Bar of Gold, an upset winner of the 2017 Grade 1 Breeders' Cup Filly and Mare Sprint. Owned by Leonard Green's DJ Stable in partnership with breeders Chester and Mary Broman, Coinage was a $450,000 purchase from Sequel New York's consignment at the 2020 Keeneland September Yearling Sale.

“After the Greens bought the filly, Mr. Broman said that he would like to partner in the horse,” Casse explained. “I've known Mr. Broman for 25 years. He's a class act, as are the Greens. Both are great people.”

Coinage has prepped for his career debut at Casse Training Center in Ocala, Florida, where he had five recorded works before shipping to Belmont Park in early April. His most recent work was a half-mile move in 48.45 seconds over the main track on May 15.

“We definitely think he has some talent, and I would hope and think that this horse would be better the further he goes,” Casse said. “His mother, oddly enough, was a sprinter, but she was by Medaglia d'Oro. I don't know how far he'll go, but he'll like some more ground, like most Tapits do.”

Coinage, listed as the 7-5 morning-line favorite, will exit post 4 under Junior Alvarado.

Casse said he will be represented by several runners at the upcoming Belmont Stakes Racing festival from June 3-5, including Got Stormy, who will see a cutback in distance for the Grade 1, $400,000 Jackpocket Jaipur at six furlongs on the turf for 3-year-olds and up.

The 6-year-old daughter of Get Stormy made her seasonal bow a winning one in the one-mile Grade 3 Honey Fox on February 27 at Gulfstream Park before a last out fifth in the Grade 2 Churchill Downs Distaff Turf Mile on May 1.

Got Stormy asserted herself a force to be reckoned with after defeating males in course record time in the one-mile Grade 1 Fourstardave in 2019 at Saratoga and followed with Grade 1-placings, in the Woodbine Mile and Breeders' Cup Mile. After a few disappointing results in the first half of 2020, Casse regrouped and shortened the talented mare in distance to win the 6 1/2-furlong Grade 3 Kentucky Downs Ladies Sprint in September and the 5 1/2-furlong Grade 3 Buffalo Trace Franklin County in October at Keeneland.

“We're going to try it and see,” Casse said. “She came out of her last race well. It was a bit of a head scratcher, but she's done that before and rebounded, so we'll see.”

Following a fifth in the Grade 1 Breeders' Cup Turf Sprint, Got Stormy was offered at the Keeneland November Sale, where she was hammered down to $2.75 million. She was acquired by Spendthrift Farm, who opted to keep her in training for a 2021 campaign and is now co-owned with MyRacehorse.com.

Casse said Gary Barber's Make Mischief is targeting the Grade 1, $500,000 Acorn, a one-turn mile on Big Sandy for sophomore fillies on June 5.

The New York-bred daughter of Into Mischief was a gallant third in the Grade 2 Eight Belles on April 30 at Churchill Downs, which was her first start for Casse since finishing fifth in the Grade 2 Chandelier in September 2020 at Santa Anita.

Make Mischief spent the winter months in New York under the care of Chris Englehart, for whom she won 3-of-4 starts including the Maddie May on February 20.

“Chris and I have been friends for about 40 years, and he did a tremendous job with her over the winter,” Casse said. “Last race, we ran her at Churchill, and it was a good run. The Acorn is a big step up, but she should love the mile.”

Bred by Avanti Stable, Make Mischief is out of the Speightstown mare Speightful Lady, who has produced four other runners of racing age, all of which are winners.

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Monmouth To Honor Leonard Green With Virgil ‘Buddy’ Raines Distinguished Achievement Award

Long-time owner, breeder and racing consultant Leonard Green, whose D.J. Stable has been a fixture at Monmouth Park for nearly four decades, has been named the recipient of the Virgil “Buddy” Raines Distinguished Achievement Award, the track announced Monday.

The Raines Award, celebrating its 25th year, is traditionally presented during Monmouth Park's opening day press conference. With an altered schedule due to the Covid-19 pandemic, Monmouth Park's 75th season will now get underway on Friday, July 3.

Green joins a notable list of past recipients whose exemplary conduct has earned them the reward for their professionalism, integrity and service to Thoroughbred racing.

“Monmouth Park has always been home to me. It represents one of the finest racing establishments in the country,” Green said. “I am deeply honored to be recognized for this distinguished award and am proud to be a member of its impressive roster of recipients. I personally want to thank Dennis Drazin for this award, and for all his hard work in keeping horse racing viable in New Jersey.”

Drazin, chairman and CEO of Darby Development, operator of Monmouth Park, said Green “exemplifies everything that is good about Thoroughbred racing.”

“The Raines Award honors the very best in our sport and Leonard Green has represented that for many years now,” Drazin added.

Leonard and Lois Green co-own D.J. Stable, which was Monmouth Park's leading owner three times. D.J. Stable has won almost 500 races at the “Oceanport Oval,” ranging from claiming races to Graded Stakes. Over the years the Greens have campaigned almost 30 graded stakes winners, including 2018 Eclipse Award-winner Jaywalk, A Thread of Blue, Another Miracle, Diamond King, Do It With Style, Mo' Green, Shooter, Songandaprayer and Sower.

The Greens have also bred the graded stakes-winning Central Banker, Hoppertunity, November Snow and Senate Appointee among dozens of other notable stakes winners.

“We have been fortunate to win races at tracks around the world, but standing in the winner's circle at Monmouth Park is still my greatest thrill,” Green said. “Of course we could not have won all those races at Monmouth without the assistance of talented trainers like Walter Reese, John Servis, Joe Orseno and Gary Contessa and Hall of Fame jockeys Julie Krone, Craig Perret, Chris Antley and Joe Bravo. They all should be recognized for their respective efforts as well.”

Green, a New Jersey Certified Public Accountant, is a graduate of the Harvard Business School Owner/President Management Program. He holds a master's degree in Taxation, with Honors, from New York University and an undergraduate degree in Accounting from Rutgers University. For almost 20 years, Green has taught Entrepreneurship and Family Business courses at Babson College.

Green is also Founder and Chairman of New Jersey-based accounting and advisory firm “The Green Group.” The firm specializes in the thoroughbred industry and has over 700 equine-related clients, including many of the top-rated partnerships and syndications, as well as alliances with fellow owners and breeders, trainers and jockeys.

Green has also been featured on CNBC “Business to Business” for stories focusing on making money in the horse breeding and racing industries and is a regular columnist for the Thoroughbred Daily News.

In 2017 Green released a top selling business book, The Entrepreneur's Playbook.

Monmouth Park's 37-day meet will again be highlighted by the Grade 1 TVG.com Haskell Stakes, which will be renewed for the 53rd time on Saturday, July 18. In a first for the Haskell, the top four finishers will earn points (100-40-20-10) for the Kentucky Derby, which is set for Sept. 5.

Five other stakes will be contested on Haskell Day, including the Grade 1 United Nations, the Grade 3 Monmouth Cup, the Grade 3 Molly Pitcher and the Grade 3 WinStar Matchmaker Stakes.

The racing schedule will go from Friday, July 3, through Sunday, Sept. 27. Post time on Fridays will be 5 p.m. (except Sept. 4 when it will be 12:50 p.m.). Saturday and Sunday post will be 12:50, except Haskell Day when the first race goes at noon.

For more information visit www.monmouthpark.com or follow the racetrack on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.

The list of previous Raines Award winners:

1996: J. Willard Thompson

1997: Danny Perlsweig

1998: Warren A. “Jimmy” Croll

1999: Joe Pierce Jr.

2000: Peter Shannon

2001: Dennis Drazin

2002: Sam Fieramosca

2003: Charles and Marianne Hesse

2004: Janet Laszlo

2005: Richard Malouf

2006: John Forbes

2007: Ben Perkins Sr.

2008: Gerald and Carolyn Sleeter

2009: Joel Kligman

2010: John Tammaro III

2011: Frank Costa

2012: John Mazza

2013: Ebby Novak

2014: Chuck Spina

2015: Bob Baffert

2016: Ed Barney

2017: Bob Kulina

2018: Mike Musto

2019: Tim Hills

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Leonard Green Named 2020 ‘Buddy’ Raines Award Winner

Longtime owner and breeder Leonard Green, whose D J Stable has been a fixture at Monmouth Park for nearly four decades, has been named the 2020 winner of the New Jersey track’s Virgil “Buddy” Raines Distinguished Achievement Award.

Dennis Drazin, chairman and CEO of Darby Development, operator of Monmouth Park, said Green “exemplifies everything that is good about Thoroughbred racing.”

Drazin continued, “The Raines Award honors the very best in our sport and Leonard Green has represented that for many years now.”

Leonard and Lois Green’s D.J. Stable has been represented by 2019 Eclipse Award winner Jaywalk, as well as graded stakes winners A Thread of Blue, Another Miracle, Diamond King, Do It With Style, Mo’ Green, Shooter, Songandaprayer and Sower.

The Greens also bred the graded stakes winners Central Banker, Hoppertunity, November Snow and Senate Appointee.

“We have been fortunate to win races at tracks around the world, but standing in the winner’s circle at Monmouth Park is still my greatest thrill,” Green said. “Of course we could not have won all those races at Monmouth without the assistance of talented trainers like Walter Reese, John Servis, Joe Orseno and Gary Contessa and Hall of Fame jockeys Julie Krone, Craig Perret, Chris Antley and Joe Bravo. They all should be recognized for their respective efforts as well.”

Green is founder and chairman of the New Jersey-based accounting and advisory firm “The Green Group.” The firm specializes in the Thoroughbred industry and has over 700 equine-related clients.

Named for the longtime New Jersey trainer and now in its 25th year, the Raines Award honors recipients for their professionalism, integrity and service to Thoroughbred racing.

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