Joe Bravo Sweeps Graded Stakes at Monmouth Park

Joe Bravo doesn't ride at Monmouth Park nearly as often as he used to, but when he does, he generally serves up a reminder of how he became a 13-time riding champion at the track.

Bravo won three of the four stakes races on the Monmouth card Sept. 1, including the Violet Stakes (G3T) with Elysea's World and the Red Bank Stakes (G3T) aboard Synchrony.

"I'm just happy to be home," Bravo said. "I'm so fortunate to have good people who support me. It keeps everything fun."

Bravo rode winners for trainers Chad Brown (Elysea's World), Michael Stidham (Synchrony), and Bill Mott (Unionizer in the Sapling Stakes).

He missed a sweep of Saturday's stakes races when Malocchio, his mount in the Sorority Stakes, finished in a dead-heat for second in a race won by 9-1 shot Decorated Ace.

Elysea's World followed her victory in the July 29 WinStar Matchmaker Stakes (G3T) by capturing the Violet Stakes by three-quarters of a length over Viva Vegas. Bravo rallied the 5-year-old mare through an opening along the rail at the top of the stretch in the 1 1/8-mile test.

"She ran great," said Brown, who watched the race from Saratoga Race Course. "Joe rode a terrific race, and she responded nicely."

Sent off as the 1-2 favorite, Elsyea's World's late rally resulted in her third grade 3 victory in her past five starts.

"She was in full control the whole race," Bravo said. "She left there easy and comfortably, and it just kind of made my job easy. The hardest part about this game is getting them happy, and Chad Brown has done a great job getting her happy. You can see she is just enjoying herself out there."

Two races later, Synchrony also shot through an opening along the rail, charging from fifth to win by 1 1/2 lengths over Abiding Star. The 5-year-old son of Tapit , owned by Pin Oak Stable, won the Oceanport Stakes (G3T) at Monmouth July 29 and has now won four graded stakes in his last six starts, all with Bravo aboard.

Stidham said Synchrony would likely be pointed next to the Shadwell Turf Mile (G1T) at Keeneland Oct. 6.

"We needed to see something like today to give us confidence to run in the Shadwell Mile and, hopefully, the Breeders' Cup," Stidham said. "This was the same ride as last time, with the way the rail opened for Joe. I got a little worried late, but then he exerted himself and kicked forward. Joe fits him like a glove. Obviously he knows him, and Joe gets the most out of him."

Synchrony covered the mile on the grass in 1:33.61.

Bravo capped his big day by winning the $75,000 Sapling Stakes for 2-year-olds at a mile on the dirt. Unionizer scored by 1 1/2 lengths over 6-5 favorite Successful Zip.

It marked the second win in three starts for the son of Union Rags .

"The thing I love about Monmouth Park is you can see a superstar 2-year-old come out of here at any time. You really can," Bravo said. "I'm not saying this is going to be tomorrow's Justify, but, wow, he was impressive today. He went out there a little green—nothing major—then he had a stride that was totally in control. He pretty much made my race easy."

Decorated Ace, ridden by Hector Diaz Jr., surprised to break her maiden in the $78,000 Sorority Stakes at a mile on the grass for 2-year-old fillies.