Joe Bravo Birthdate: September 10, 1971 Birthplace: Long Branch, NJ Residence: Eatontown, NJ

2008 Gulfstream Record

Career:

• Perennial leader in New Jersey and Florida actually ceded his customary spot atop the Monmouth Park throne in 2008 while becoming more selective with his mounts.
• “Jersey Joe” has reason to be cautious after an unfortunate run of injuries cost him significant saddle time six of the last eight years. He tied with Edgar Prado for second in the 2004 Gulfstream standings while riding the most horses that year. In 2008, he finished 10th in the Gulfstream standings as one of only 11 riders to surpass $1 million in earnings. He is often the choice of national stables when they ship to New Jersey, and that reputation led to winning rides aboard Notional in the 2008 Salvator Mile for Doug O'Neill, on Anak Nakal in the Pennsylvania Derby for Nick Zito, J Z Warrior in three stakes for Bill Mott and as a regular partner with J'Ray for Todd Pletcher
• Gulfstream was the site of his first major victory when he rode Formal Gold in the 1997 Donn Handicap. He’s also won Grade 1 stakes, taking the 2004 Haskell at Monmouth Park with Lion Heart and the 2003 King’s Bishop Stakes at Saratoga aboard Valid Video. He is nicknamed “Jersey Joe,” not only because that’s where he’s from but also for his total dominance of the circuit. He has 13 Monmouth Park riding championships along with eight Meadowlands riding titles. He rode two horses, Icy Atlantic and Idiot Proof, to track records in stakes in 2007 at Monmouth. Joey B. has also been the regular rider of top N.J.-bred Joey P.
• Other: Bravo is a third-generation jockey, following his grandfather Bartolo and father George into the business. He started out riding Quarter Horses at age 13 in Texas. He became a professional aboard thoroughbreds in 1987, but didn’t win a race until the next year, scoring aboard Daffy Doc.