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).