Brown Earns $75K Bonus for Haskell Trainer Challenge

Eclipse Award-winning trainer Chad Brown, who had four winners on the NYRA Bets Haskell Day card on July 19, earned the top prize of a $75,000 bonus from the $150,000 Haskell Weekend Trainer Challenge at Monmouth Park, doing so for the second straight year. Brown has dominated the Haskell Trainer Challenge since its inception in 2024, finishing second that year before his back-to-back top finishes the past two years. The Haskell Weekend Trainer Challenge ran from July 17-19 and offered the opportunity to earn points in every race over the three days. On Haskell Day, Brown won the Grade 2 United Nations with Program Trading, the Grade 3 WinStar Matchmaker with Grayosh and a pair of allowance option claimers with Midway Memories and Dragonite. He also finished third in the Grade 1 Haskell Stakes with Iron Honor. Lindsay Schultz, who won the Haskell Stakes with Baby Vino, finished second with 45 points to earn a $25,000 bonus. Brad Cox was third, taking home a $20,000 bonus, with the fourth through 10th finishers all being Monmouth Park-based. Peter Synnefias (fourth, $10,000 bonus), Eddie Owens (fifth, $7.500 bonus), Kelly Breen (sixth, $2.500 bonus), Chuck Spina (seventh, $2,500 bonus) and Joann Bertone (eighth, $2,500) followed the top three. Rory Huston and Riquelius Grullon tied for 10th, with each receiving a $1,250 bonus. To be eligible, trainers had to make at least five starts in at least three races over the three-day weekend. The Haskell Stakes offered 25 points for the winning trainer, with 20 points for second, 15 points for third place, 10 points for fourth place, and 7 points for finishing fifth through last place. The point system for the graded stakes was as follows: 18 for first place, 15 for second place, 10 points for third place, 8 points for fourth place and 5 points for fifth through last place. The point system for all other stakes races was 12-9-7-5 and 4 for fifth through last. Maiden special weight, allowance and handicap races offered points on an 8-6-4 basis, with 2 points for fourth place through last place. All other races had a point value of 5 for first place, 3 for second place, 2 for third place, and 1 point for fourth through last place.