Bravo Remains Hospitalized with Broken Back

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By Claire Novak
Jockey Joe Bravo fractured two vertebrae during a spill Wednesday at Gulfstream Park, and will be off his mounts for an undetermined length of time, said his agent, Danny Mellul.

The spill occurred in the second race on Gulfstream's opening card when Bravo's mount, Bay Marvel, broke down on the far turn of the 6 furlong event and threw his rider. Bravo complained of back pain and was transported to Hollywood Memorial Hospital. Bay Marvel, a 7-year-old gelding trained by John Charles Zimmerman and the favorite in a field of eleven claimers, was euthanized.

According to Mellul, doctors at Hollywood Memorial are uncertain as to how long Bravo will be off his mounts, but it could be a considerable length of time. As of Thursday morning, the 34-year-old jockey was still under medical supervision at the Florida hospital.

"He's hurting right now," Mellul said. "He fractured T8 and T9, the vertebrae that are basically right across from your sternum, and they haven't been able to give us a timeframe as far as recovery goes. It'll definitely be a while. Once he's in less pain they'll fit him with a brace and we'll get the recovery process started."

A New Jersey native, Bravo tied for second in the Gulfstream jockey standings in 2004 with 68 wins. He finished that meet third in earnings behind John Velazquez and Edgar Prado with nearly $2 million in purses.

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