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Bravo Guides Za Approval to Red Bank Victory

With a well-timed ride from Joe Bravo, favored Za Approval caught outsider Tune Me In in the final yards to capture the $111,000 Red Bank Stakes (gr. III) on the turf May 18 at Monmouth Park.

Black Onyx Scratched From Kentucky Derby

Horseshoe Casino Cincinnati Spiral Stakes (gr. II) winner Black Onyx was scratched late Friday morning from the May 4 Kentucky Derby Presented by Yum! Brands (gr. I), after a chip was detected in his left ankle.

Jersey Boys Seek Respect for Black Onyx

New Jersey-based trainer Kelly Breen and jockey 'Jersey' Joe Bravo have Black Onyx ready for a longshot run at the Kentucky Derby Presented by Yum! Brands (gr. I).

Bravo Flies In to Work Improving Black Onyx

Black Onyx's final tune-up at Churchill Downs April 27 was less about time and more about attitude, said jockey Joe Bravo, who flew in specifically for the work. The son of Rock Hard Ten worked four furlongs in :48 3/5.

KY Derby: Joe Bravo & Black Onyx Work 4/27

Spiral Stakes (gr. III) winner goes :48 3/5 April 27 at Churchill Downs, and Joe Bravo shares his excitement following the work.

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Speak Logistics Tops Calder Derby

Hardway Stables' Speak Logistics, third behind subsequent Besilu Stables Florida Derby (gr. I) winner Orb in the Fountain of Youth Stakes (gr. II), heads a field of eight for the Calder Derby.

Black Onyx in Derby Picture After Spiral Win

Sterling Racing's Black Onyx ran his way into the picture for the Kentucky Derby Presented by Yum! Brands (gr. I) with a 1 1/2-length victory in the $550,000 Horseshoe Casino Cincinnati Spiral Stakes at Turfway March 23.

Jockeys' Guild Supports Medication Reform

Members passed a resolution supporting The Jockey Club's Reformed Racing Medication Rules including a two-category medication system, progressive points-style penalties, and reciprocity among jurisdictions.

Grade I Victor Sean Avery Wins Comeback Race

Grade I winner Sean Avery returned to action following a 13-month layoff to capture the minor Affiliate Stakes by 2 1/4 lengths on opening day of the fall meet at Belmont Park Sept. 8.

Rule Launches Season with Monmouth Cup Score

Rule made his 5-year-old debut a winning one July 7 in the $200,000 Monmouth Cup Stakes (gr. II) at Monmouth Park, sitting just off a dawdling early pace before drawing off under jockey Joe Bravo to get the job done.

Turbo Compressor On Engine in United Nations

Easy front-runner Turbo Compressor, ridden expertly by Joe Bravo, put his six rivals to sleep and coasted to victory over Air Support in the $505,000 United Nations Stakes (gr. IT) July 7 at Monmouth Park.

Dancing Solo Waltzes to Boiling Springs Score

Dancing Solo earned her second stakes win in a row on the Monmouth Park turf with a sharp effort in the $103,000 Boiling Springs Stakes(gr. IIIT) June 23.

Turbo Compressor Takes Colonial Cup

Turbo Compressor proved once again that speed can be dangerous. The 4-year-old Halo's Image ridgeling, who makes it a habit of being in front, got out to a narrow lead in the Colonial Turf Cup and won.

Little Mike Takes Turf Classic in Big Effort

Little Mike caught a tough group of competitors by surprise with a wire-to-wire upset victory in the $561,000 Woodford Reserve Turf Classic (gr. IT) at Churchill Downs May 5.

Here to Win Last to First in The Very One

Taking advantage of a heady rail-skimming trip from Joe Bravo, Brazilian-bred Here to Win outkicked Keertana in the stretch for an 11-1 upset in $100,000 The Very One (gr. IIIT) Feb. 25 at Gulfstream Park.

Junebugred Ekes Out Smarty Jones Win

Junebugred made his 2012 debut a winning one, but it was close. The chestnut son of Corinthian defeated 17-1 longshot Reckless Jerry by a neck in the $100,000 Smarty Jones Stakes for 3-year-olds at Oaklawn Park Jan. 16.

Little Mike Wins by Nose in Gulfstream Return

Little Mike, a three-time graded stakes winner on the Gulfstream Park turf earlier this year, returned to his favorite course after 8 1/2 months on the sidelines to win an allowance/optional claiming race by a nose.

Shoulder Injury Sidelines Lopez at Gulfstream

Jockey Paco Lopez was taken off his mounts for the weekend of Dec. 10-11 at Gulfstream Park due to a small hairline crack on his shoulder blade, according to agent Cory Moran.

Jimanator Downs Mambo Meister in Hooper

Making his stakes debut, career claimer Jimanator outdueled odds-on favorite Mambo Meister to win the $100,000 Fred W. Hooper Handicap (gr. III) Nov. 26 at Calder Casino & Race Course.

De Francis Dash: Candyman E Makes Sweet Move

Favored Candyman E, overcoming trouble for jockey Joe Bravo entering the turn, exploited an opening along the inside to prevail in the $150,000 Frank J. De Francis Memorial Dash Oct. 22 at Laurel Park.

Boisterous, Denomination Post Belmont Wins

Phipps Stable's homebred Boisterous never stopped charging and finally overtook Sleepless Knight in the final 40 yards to win the $100,000 Knickerbocker Stakes (gr. IIIT) by a half-length Oct. 15 at Belmont Park.

Sean Avery Just Holds on in Tight Vanderbilt

Front-running Sean Avery, under all-out pressure from jockey Joe Bravo, nosed odds-on choice Trappe Shot to produce a 17-1 stunner in the $250,000 Alfred G. Vanderbilt Handicap (gr. I) at Saratoga Aug. 7.

Jack's in the Deck Deals 14-1 Futurity Upset

Maiden Jack's in the Deck split horses in the stretch and burst home to capture the $150,000 Futurity Stakes (gr. II) by four lengths in an upset at cloudy Belmont Park July 3.

This Ones for Phil, Bravo Shine at Monmouth

This Ones for Phil captured the featured $75,000 Decathlon Stakes, Joe Bravo won three races, and a crowd of 10,847 enjoyed opening day festivities as Monmouth Park kicked off the 2011 Thoroughbred racing season May 14.

$1M Classic Right Time for Some 'Mischief'

Duke of Mischief has no problem traveling or trying new racetracks, and the evening of April 16 he found Hollywood Casino at Charles Town Races to his liking in the $1 million Charles Town Classic (gr. III).

Little Mike Runs Big Again to Win Appleton

Speedster Little Mike played the bully once again on the Gulfstream Park turf, tallying in the $100,000 Emirates Airlines Appleton Stakes April 3 for his third grade III win of the meet.

Little Mike Sneaks Away in Canadian Turf

For the second time during the meet, Little Mike went gate to wire to win a graded stakes on the Gulfstream Park turf, turning back a solid field in the $150,000 Canadian turf Stakes (gr. IIIT) Feb. 27.

Justaroundmidnight Upsets Marshua's River

Jockey Joe Bravo made it clean sweep of the Gulfstream Park stakes Jan. 9, as he guided 26-1 longshot Justaroundmidnight to victory in the $100,000 Marshua's River (gr. IIIT) one race after scoring the Ft. Lauderdale.

Little Mike, 12-1, Hangs on in Ft. Lauderdale

Sent off at 12-1 in a wide-open field of 11, Little Mike broke sharply from the outside and never looked back, going wire-to-wire to win a thrilling edition of the $100,000 Ft. Lauderdale (gr. IIIT) Jan. 9 at Gulfstream Park.

To Honor and Serve Powers to Nashua Victory

Heavily favored To Honor and Serve cruised to a front-running four-length victory over Mucho Macho Man in the $150,000 Nashua Stakes (gr. II), one of a trio of graded stakes Nov. 6 at Aqueduct Racetrack.

Smooth Run for In the Rough in Coconut Grove

In the Rough used a rail-skimming ride from Joe Bravo to register her first stakes win in the $125,000 Coconut Grove over the Gulfstream Park turf Feb. 14.

Bickersons Runs Away With Forward Gal Stakes

Bettors could see only Eclipse Award winner She Be Wild, but it was 9-1 shot Bickersons that destroyed the field in the $150,000 Forward Gal Stakes (gr. II) at Gulfstream Park Jan. 31.

Coal Play Has Plenty of Fuel in Salvator Mile

Coal Play, ridden on the front end by Joe Bravo, ran his seven rivals off their feet in the $250,000 Salvator Mile (gr. III) at Monmouth Park July 4, gaining an early berth to the Breeders' Cup Dirt Mile.

All Is Vanity Storms Home in Eatontown

Jedburgh Stud's All Is Vanity, sixth at the top of the lane, displayed a huge turn of foot in the final furlong and passed Quiet Meadow in the final strides to take a thrilling edition of the $150,000 Eatontown (gr. IIIT) June 7 on the Monmouth Park turf.

Jockey Coa Hires New Agent

Eibar Coa splits with agent Matt Muzikar, hires Drew Mollica to handle his book.

NJ Jockeys Closer to Health Insurance

Jockeys who ride regularly in New Jersey could begin receiving an annual grant of $150,000 to help pay for health insurance if a deal is finalized during a December meeting between the New Jersey Racing Commission and the Jockeys' Guild.

Zito Duo Head Meadowlands Cup

The Nick Zito-trained duo of Da'Tara and Anak Nakal heads the field for the $350,000 grade II Meadowlands Cup Oct. 3 at Meadowlands.

Anak Nakal Nabs Pennsylvania Derby

Anak Nakal, rallying from far back for jockey Joe Bravo, got up in the final strides to defeat Acai in the $1 million Pennsylvania Derby (gr. II) at Philadelphia Park Sept. 1.

J'ray Strides Away in Matchmaker Stretch

Making her Monmouth Park turf debut, J'ray arrived with a big charge from mid-pack in the homestretch to win the $150,000 Taylor Made Matchmaker Stakes (gr. IIIT) going away for jockey Joe Bravo Aug. 3.

Joey P. Looks Live in Gravesend

John Petrini's New Jersey homebred Joey P. eyes his fifth stakes score of the season Dec. 29 at Aqueduct, as he will face five rivals in the $100,000 Gravesend Handicap (gr. III), a race that was rescheduled from Dec. 16 because of inclement weather in New York.

Video: Interview with Joe Bravo

BloodHorseNOW.com writer Claire Novak interveiws Joe Bravo, hometown jockey at Monmouth Park, who has three Breeders' Cup mounts.

Bravo Returns to Action With Victory

Joe Bravo, hoping to recover from injury in time for the Breeders' Cup later this month, was victorious in his return to riding at the Meadowlands Oct. 13.

Bravo to Ride Again, Hopes for Breeders' Cup

Jockey Joe Bravo, sidelined with a fractured left clavicle bone following a Sept. 7 spill at Belmont Park, will return to the saddle Oct. 13 at Belmont Park, said his agent, Drew Mollica.

Bravo May Be Back in Irons Soon, Says Agent

Jockey Joe Bravo, who fractured his left clavicle bone in a Sept. 7 spill at Belmont Park, is a "week to 10 days" away from galloping horses, his agent, Drew Mollica, said Sept. 30.

Smart Enough Aces Turf Monster, Sets Course Mark

Edith R. Dixon's homebred Smart Enough opened up a 2 1/2-length win in the stretch and held on nicely for Joe Bravo to win the $200,000 Turf Monster Handicap in course record time on the turf at Philadelphia Park Sept. 3.

Joe Bravo Reaches 4,000-Win Milestone

Jockey Joe Bravo scored the 4,000th victory of his career when he guided the Todd Pletcher-trained Alotofappeal to a one-length victory in the seventh race at Monmouth Park Wednesdau, an allowance event.

Rutherienne Wins Boiling Springs On Disqualification

Trainer Christophe Clement kept his perfect record at Monmouth intact Saturday with a little help from the stewards as Virginia Kraft Payson's Rutherienne was placed first after finishing second to Red Birkin in the $150,000 Boiling Spring Stakes (gr. IIIT) for 3-year-old fillies on the turf.

Joey P. Sets Track Mark as Monmouth Season Opens

John Petrini's homebred Joey P. rolled to a track-record victory in the $60,000 Decathlon Stakes at Monmouth Park on Saturday as 13,066 fans gave a rousing welcome back to Thoroughbred racing at the Jersey Shore.

Drum Major Along in Time in Knickerbocker H.

Dogwood Stable's Drum Major caught favored Fishy Advice in the final strides for a head victory in the $114,100 Knickerbocker Handicap (gr. IIIT) on the Aqueduct turf course Saturday.

Silver Wagon Rolls to Sport Page Victory

Silver Wagon's closing style was well served by a fast pace in the $158,600 Sport Page Breeders' Cup Handicap (gr. III) at Aqueduct Saturday, resulting in a smashing 5 1/2-length victory the Richard Dutrow Jr.-trained gray horse.