Fennessy said Friday that he was not aware a lawsuit had been filed and expects to settle the matter quickly with Hopewell. "I was in a bad accident last year and unable to get my mail from my office in New York," he said. "I guess nobody notified the farm. I won't be going to court. I will be working with Hopewell to settle this bill."Fennessy has an office in Garden City, N.Y., but he said he keeps his horses on a rented farm near Ocala, Fla.
Hopewell Farm is suing to recover $79,500 in breeding fees and taxes from Irish American Bloodhorse Agency, which bred two mares to 1998 Horse of the Year Skip Away.Michael Fennessy, president of Irish American Bloodhorse, was sued Jan. 22 for defaulting on the breedings of his mares Dayjur Vu Again, a 10-year-old daughter of Dayjur out of Mom's Command, and Offthe Bridle, a 9-year-old daughter of Unbridled out of Heather's Turn. Both mares delivered fillies that have pending registration applications with The Jockey Club.Rick Trontz, owner of Hopewell Farm near Midway, Ky., declined to comment about the suit.