Columbus, OH – According to Bill Finley’s story in Thoroughbred Daily News Wednesday (Oct. 20), “Disgraced harness trainer Christopher Oakes, who had close ties to Jorge Navarro, changed his plea to guilty Tuesday (Oct. 19) when appearing before federal judge Mary Kay Vyskocil via teleconference.”

Trainer Chris Oakes changed his plea to guilty in federal court Tuesday. Claus Andersen/Harness Racing Update photo.

Finley reports that Oakes is the 10th person from the original 27 indicted from March 2020 for use of performance-enhancing drugs.

“Oakes, 57, pled guilty to one count of misbranding and drug adulteration with intent to defraud or deceive and faces up to three years in prison,” according to TDN. “He will be sentenced Feb. 17.

“When asked by Vyskocil what he had done that made him guilty to the crimes he has been charged with, Oakes replied, “I purchased medications from Dr. Seth Fishman and Dr. Gregor Skelton and his assistant Ross Cohen and administered the medications to the horses in my care to gain an unfair advantage.”

To read Bill Finley’s complete story in Thoroughbred Daily News, click here.