Thoroughbred Breeders’ Association of New Jersey
By Lillian Davis, Paulick Report
It’s not often that two half-siblings race against one another, but on Aug. 23 at Monmouth Park, See The Truth defeated his half-brother Clever Charlie by a head in a 1 1/16-mile off-turf allowance optional claiming contest.
Both New Jersey-bred geldings are trained by Kelly Breen for their breeder, Charles Kromann.
“It was quite an interesting experience not knowing exactly who to root for,” Kromann said.
Five-year-old See The Truth (Holy Boss) and 4-year-old Clever Charlie (Flameaway) are the first and second foals out of Countess Geraldine. Countess Geraldine is one of six six-figure earners produced by the Kromann family’s foundation mare, Sweet Cali Cat.
“We have a younger brother who’s a yearling that’s out in the field, and certainly the mare stamped them,” said Kromann, a board member of the Thoroughbred Breeders’ Association of New Jersey. “They look similar, and I would say that they do have similar dispositions and personalities.”
Breaking from opposite ends of the seven-horse field, See The Truth and rider Paco Lopez pressed the pace from second, while Clever Charlie and Melissa Iorio rated in fifth. See The Truth and Clever Charlie hooked up at the top of the stretch and drew away by over five lengths, with See The Truth eventually getting the better of his half-brother.
It was See The Truth’s fourth lifetime victory in 18 starts and his first in 2026. Clever Charlie broke his maiden at Monmouth in May and was the runner-up for the second time in 10 starts.
“The funny thing was they have done a little bit of training, galloping in the morning together, and their last two workouts they worked together,” Kromann said. “It was almost like they felt like they were in a work down the stretch, and you know it was really special to watch.”
The finish was the result of decades of horsemanship in the Kromann family, dating all the way back to 1966 when Kromann’s father, Lloyd, started hot-walking at Brookdale Farm in Red Bank, N.J. Lloyd Kromann saddled his first winner in 1978, and See The Truth was his final starter in 2023.
The Aug. 23 card featured nine New Jersey-bred restricted races, including three stakes, as part of the New Jersey Thoroughbred Festival.
In the third race, 3-year-old Cairo Surprise defeated his elders in the $75,000 New Jersey Breeders’ Handicap (Black Type) going six furlongs on the main track. In the fifth, Happy Offering captured the $100,000 Charles Hesse II Handicap going 1 1/16 miles on the main track. In the eighth, 3-year-old La Resolana defeated older fillies and mares in the six-furlong $76,500 Eleven North Handicap (Black Type) to stay perfect in four starts this year. Lopez was aboard each of the handicap winners.
“It’s a day where we try to celebrate the New Jersey-breds and the breeders that support the program,” Kromann said. “We’re still energetic and have a lot of people that are supporting New Jersey racing.”