For a horse racing agent at Monmouth Park this is an embarrassment of riches: Cory Moran will have the book on both Paco Lopez and Joe Bravo when the Jersey Shore soap kicks off its 79th season on May 11, with one statistic underscoring the importance of that pairing.
Combined, Bravo and Lopez have won 23 equestrian titles at Monmouth Park.
“It’s amazing when you think about it,” Moran said. “Both Joe Bravo and Paco Lopez are the most dominant drivers in Monmouth Park history.”
Bravo, who holds the record with 13 titles, will be based at Monmouth Park again this summer after a short hiatus while reuniting with Moran. The last time Moran and Bravo teamed up, they won 31 points races (11 grade 1) in 2015-16,
“Jersey” Joe, born in nearby Long Branch, last won a riding title at Monmouth Park in 2007.
“I didn’t think I was going to win the title,” Bravo, 52, said. There’s still a lot of work to be done.” “I’m not going out there trying to race 10 or 11 races a day anymore and I haven’t done that in the last couple of years.
“Equestrian titles are great, don’t get me wrong. But what gets me excited is riding good horses for good trainers.”
Lopez enters the 51-day meet with five straight Monmouth titles and nine of the past 11 to bring his total to 10.
Lopez, 38, is approaching his 4,000th career championship after finishing third in the standings behind Irad Ortiz Jr. and Jose Ortiz, respectively in this tournament. Gulfstream ParkChampionship meeting of.
“I’m still a few years away from catching Joe (for the most titles in track history),” Lopez said. “We always get along so this summer will be fun. I feel like I have good momentum coming to Monmouth Park.”
Bravo has ridden 2,119 winners from 8,690 exclusive mounts at Monmouth Park during his career.
“It’s amazing what you can accomplish in the ring,” said Bravo, who has ridden a total of more than 5,600 winners.
Lopez has won 1,213 races from 4,802 at the Jersey Shore track since he became a fixture there in 2009.
“I’ve been with Paco since he started riding in the United States in 2007, so it’s incredible to think that he’s racked up 4,000 wins overall while we’ve been there,” said Moran. together. “He just won. He’s a winning machine.”
COACH BONUS
Monmouth Park is offering additional incentives to trainers during the NYRA Bets Haskell Stakes weekend from July 19-21, with a $150,000 Haskell Weekend Trainers Challenge available the highest payout is $75,000.
2023 Haskell Stakes at Monmouth Park
Prize money for the three-day event will be determined by a points system that includes all races that weekend.
Centered on the 57th edition of the $1 million Haskell Stakes (G1) for 3-year-olds on July 20. United Nations (G2T), Molly Pitcher Stakes (G3), Monmouth Cup (G3), Matchmaker Stakes (G3T), and Wolf Hill Stakes highlight the Haskell undercard.
The coach who accumulates the most points over the three weekends will receive $75,000, with $25,000 for second place, $20,000 for third place, $10,000 for fourth place and $7,500 dollars for fifth place.
Coaches ranked sixth through 10th will each receive $2,500.
To qualify, a trainer must make at least five starts by participating in at least three races.
Haskell Stakes will award 25 points to the winning trainer, with 20 points for second place, 15 points for third place, 10 points for fourth place and seven points for fifth to last place together.
The scoring system for ranked stakes is as follows: 18 points for first place, 15 points for second place, 10 points for third place, 8 points for fourth place and 5 points for second place fifth to last.
The scoring system for all other stakes races will be 12-9-7-5 and 4 from fifth to last.
Special weight, allowance and maiden handicap races will be scored on an 8-6-4 basis, with two points for fourth to last place. All other races will have a point value of five for first place, three for second place, two for third place and one point for fourth to last place.
Each race over the three-day period will offer the opportunity to accumulate points.
This press release has been edited for content and style by BloodHorse Staff.
