BROWN SENDING OUT A PAIR OF EUROPEAN IMPORTS SATURDAY

By Tom Luicci —-

BROWN SENDING OUT A PAIR OF EUROPEAN IMPORTS SATURDAY

OCEANPORT, N.J. – Attach almost any other trainer’s name to Brisbane and Cosmic Year – both entered in two of the three grass stakes races at Monmouth Park on Saturday – and it would be easy to dismiss their chances.

But the fact that five-time Eclipse Award winner Chad Brown, arguably the best turf trainer in the country, oversees both changes everything.

Brisbane, a 5-year-old French import who has not race in 19 months, is among the field of six fillies and mares (Grade 3 winner Daisy Flyer will be scratched, according to trainer Rusty Arnold’s camp) set to go in the $100,000 Miss Liberty Stakes. The daughter of Zelzal has had one race in just over three years, but when she does run she is always a factor, showing three wins, a second and a third from five career starts.

Cosmic Year, a 4-year-old colt, has spent his entire seven-race career in Europe and is coming off a seven-month layoff heading into the $100,000 Cliff Hanger Stakes, which attracted a field of nine.

Both the Miss Liberty and Cliff Hanger will be contested over a mile and a sixteenth.

The $100,000 Jersey Derby, at a mile on the grass, caps the eight-race card that features five turf races.

Unlike her stablemate Cosmic Year, Brisbane has already made her U.S. debut, winning an allowance at a mile on the grass on Oct. 10, 2024 during the Belmont at Aqueduct meet. That marked her first start for Brown, who took over her training from Francois Rohaut. She won a pair of ungraded stakes in France for Rohaut.

For this start, Brisbane will be facing Grade 2 winner Ozara, coming off a six-month layoff, as well as Mo Fox Givin and Long Ago, both of whom have been competitive in graded stakes company.

Cosmic Year, a son of Kingman owned by Juddmont, shows three wins, a second and a third from seven career starts. He was second in the Group 1 2000 Guineas at Curragh Racecourse in County Kildare, Ireland, on May 24, 2025.

Manny Franco is listed to ride Cosmic Year, who was previously trained by Harry Charlton in Great Britain, France and Ireland. He has been working at Belmont Park in preparation for this start.

Dylan Davis has been named on Brisbane, who has been training at Saratoga for his return following his long layoff.

MONMOUTH TO HOST $400 HANDICAPPING CONTEST SATURDAY

WITH 2 NHC SEATS, 4 PICK YOUR PRIZE SEATS UP FOR GRABS

Monmouth Park will host a $400 buy-in handicapping contest offering two 2027 NHC seats, four Pick Your Prize Handicapping Challenge seats for this year and cash prizes on Saturday, May 30.

The NHC seats and Pick Your Prize Handicapping Challenge seats available are based on 125 entries.

The $400 buy-in covers the $200 entry fee and the $200 contest bankroll.

Monmouth Park, which will feature three turf stakes races and five grass races overall on Saturday’s eight-race card, and Churchill Downs are the contest tracks to wager on.

The wagering format is win, place and show only, with a minimum bet of $20. Contestants must bet at least $200 total.

In addition to the two 2027 NHC seats and four 2026 Pick Your Prize Handicapping Challenge seats, an estimated $8,000 will be paid out to the top five finishers. The top six finishers get one pick of an NHC or Pick Your Prize seat.

Registration is day-of only from 11 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. on the first floor of the Clubhouse.

The contest is a prelude to the Pick Your Prize contest on June 13 that is the Monmouth Park’s biggest of the year. The expected prize pool for that contest is $300,000-plus.

All players must be registered for the Pick Your Prize contest next month.

For more information, email Brian Skirka at bskirka@monmouthpark.com