Mr. Monomoy to stand at Waldorf Farm

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Mr. Monomoy, a winner at 2 and Grade 2 winner at 3, enters stud in 2021 at Waldorf Farm. Coady Photography.

Mr. Monomoy, a Grade 2 winner and half brother to probable two-time champion Monomoy Girl, will join the stallion roster at Dr. Jerry Bilinski’s Waldorf Farm in North Chatham for the 2021 season. Climax Stallions LLC purchased a majority interest in the 3-year-old son of Palace Malice, who will stand his first season for $5,000 stands and nurses.

Mr. Monomoy, who also hails from the family of champion Heavenly Cause, won two of five starts with a second and a third for $327,162 in earnings. He won the Grade 2 Risen Star Stakes and finished third in the Grade 3 Lecomte Stakes in 2020 for trainer Brad Cox and owners Madaket Stables, Michael Dubb and Doheny Racing Stable.

“We bought Mr. Monomoy specifically for the New York breeding program,” said Sean Feld, managing partner of Climax Stallions. “It is hard to find one champion in the immediate family of a stallion let alone two and look at where the family did their winning.

“Heavenly Cause won the Acorn and Frizette plus his half-sister Monomoy Girl also won the Acorn before taking the Coaching Club American Oaks. Then you factor in his sire, Palace Malice’s accomplishments; (he) won the Belmont, Jim Dandy and the Met Mile. It’s a very deep and classy pedigree and we are very excited.”

Bred by FPF LLC and Highfield Ranch and out of the Henny Hughes mare Drumette, Mr. Monomoy sold as a weanling for $60,000 at the 2017 Keeneland November breeding stock sale. Monomoy Girl was a 2-year-old at that point, with three wins in as many starts. She later went on to win six of her next eight starts at the end of 2017 and into 2018, including the Grade 1 Breeders’ Cup Distaff to lock up the Eclipse Award as champion 3-year-old filly. Monomoy Girl didn’t race in 2019 but returned in 2020, when she went 4-for-4 with a season-ending victory in the Breeders’ Cup Distaff at Keeneland. She then sold for $9.5 million at the Fasig-Tipton Kentucky November mixed sale.

Mr. Monomoy went through the sales ring again in 2019, at the Arqana May 2-year-old breeze up sale, and brought $202,230. He won his second start about seven months later, taking a 6 1/2-furlong maiden at Churchill Downs by 5 1/2 lengths. After a second in allowance company late in his 2-year-old season, Mr. Monomoy placed in the Lecomte and won the Risen Star to stamp his credentials as potential classics contender.

“He was able to win going short and then win a major Kentucky Derby prep by carrying his speed around two turns at 1 1/8 miles,” Cox said. “Those are two major check marks that make a top sire in my opinion.”

Drumette, a half sister to graded stakes winner Drum Major out of the stakes-winning Williamstown mare Endless Parade, produced six winners from her six foals of racing age. In addition to Mr. Monomoy and Monomoy Girl, Drumette is the dam of $550,000 2-year-old purchase and 2020 winner Superman Shaq (by Shackleford).

“Mr. Monomoy, with his athleticism, brings speed, precocity and a New York pedigree to New York,” Dr. Bilinski said. “I have no doubt once breeders feast their eyes on this stallion, they will want to breed their mares to Mr. Monomoy.”

Endnotes:
  1. [Image]: https://www.nytbreeders.org/news/wp-content/uploads/2020/12/MrMonomoyNYTB.jpg

Source URL: https://www.nytbreeders.org/news/2020/12/07/mr-monomoy-to-stand-at-waldorf-farm/

NYTB announces Najja Thompson as new executive director

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Najja Thompson starts his role as executive director of the NYTB Dec. 14.

New York Thoroughbred Breeders, Inc. (NYTB) is pleased to announce the appointment of Najja Thompson as the new Executive Director of the Saratoga-based organization; Thompson will begin his role December 14.

Najja has over nine years of experience as a member of the New York Racing Association, Inc. since 2011, serving in various roles in the marketing department and communications office. Most recently, he worked as a recruitment and employee engagement specialist, where he was responsible for identifying and cultivating new talent and developing onboarding initiatives. Additionally, he serves as Vice-President of the Turf Publicists of America, Inc.

“We are delighted to have Najja join the New York Thoroughbred Breeders as Executive Director,” said Thomas Gallo, President of the NYTB, “with Najja’s direct industry experience in New York and a deep knowledge of the New York horse industry landscape I feel very confident that he can continue moving NYTB forward in a positive direction.”

A graduate of Florida State University, Najja developed his passion for Thoroughbred racing after being introduced to the sport by his uncle, a small-time breeder in Florida. Growing up attending racetracks in both Florida and New York, he followed his passion to work in the industry.

“I am excited to step into this role with the New York Thoroughbred Breeders,” Thompson said. “It’s a privilege to work on behalf of the horsemen and women in the Thoroughbred breeding industry. I look forward to the opportunity to advance the efforts and accomplishments of NYTB in enhancing the status of New York-breds and promoting the economic impact breeders and New York racing contributes to our state.”

Endnotes:
  1. [Image]: https://www.nytbreeders.org/news/wp-content/uploads/2020/12/NajjaThompson.jpg

Source URL: https://www.nytbreeders.org/news/2020/12/07/nytb-announces-najja-thompson-as-new-executive-director/

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