But neither the Breeders' Cup blanking nor the Derby banishment should be taken as indications that the Hall-of-Fame conditioner is running low on horsepower, particularly in the 2-year-old division.

A pair of Baffert juveniles on the first two days of the Del Mar meeting this past weekend underscored that his stable will continue to churn out a deep rotation of Triple Crown aspirants, although it remains to be seen how they might arrive at the first of the spring Classics, whether in the form of a switch to another conditioner, or under Baffert's own name if and when another court fight against CDI materializes.

Second-time starter Coach Prime (Quality Road) caught the eye and earned 'TDN Rising Star' status with a 7 1/4-length blowout victory over a mile Nov. 10. The $1.7-million KEESEP colt for Zedan Racing Stables was pinballed at the break from post nine, but the 7-5 favorite settled into a comfortable midpack stalking spot while three wide through the clubhouse turn behind quick opening fractions of :21.44 and :44.94.

Flavien Prat guided Coach Prime to within two lengths of the lead while on the inside a half-mile from home, and the colt continued “on hold” while waiting for running room as multiple pace-pressers took turns chipping at the lead. He shifted out to the three path at the quarter pole, just before a wall of four at the front split into two turning for home, and Coach Prime sliced on through between them while still in hand.

Beyond a single crack of the crop after cresting the eighth pole unopposed, Prat largely hand-rode Coach Prime through the final furlong. The 1:37.18 final clocking and low-looking 75 Beyer Speed Figure can be chalked up as artifacts of this colt not nearing full extension and being geared down in the late stages.

Stablemate Pilot Commander (Justify), a $145,000 KEEJAN RNA and a $700,000 OBSMAR buy for CSLR Racing Partners, impressed with a debut six-furlong win at 13-10 odds under Juan Hernandez the following afternoon.

This Baffert trainee shot straight to the front, conceded the lead to an inside challenger a half-mile out, reclaimed it with ease a furlong later, edged away at the top of the stretch, and successfully repulsed a challenge from the third-favorite in the betting while building his winning margin to 2 1/4 lengths in 1:09.82. Pilot Commander's Beyer fig was not yet available at deadline for this column.

Juvy Jock Streak Stopped At 13…

The target at the top of the totem pole for the 2024 Derby, is, of course, 'TDN Rising Star' Fierceness (City of Light), who trounced the GI Breeders' Cup Juvenile field by 6 1/4 lengths en route to a 105 Beyer victory.

In the six months between now and the first Saturday in May, prepare to be frequently reminded how poor a metric winning the 1 1/16-miles championship race for 2-year-olds is in predicting prowess at age three going 10 furlongs.

Since the advent of the Breeders' Cup in 1984, Juvenile winners have accounted for only two Kentucky Derby wins from 39 runnings (Street Sense in 2007 and Nyquist in 2016).

Second- and third-place Juvenile horses don't fare much better. Those 78 horses have produced just two Derby victories, by Alysheba (third in the 1986 Juvenile) and Spend A Buck (third in the 1984 Juvenile).

Oddly enough, another “drought” type of streak in the Juvenile–this one relating to jockeys–was snapped when John Velazquez scored aboard Fierceness in this year's edition.

Dating to 2010, when Velazquez last won the Juvenile aboard Uncle Mo, 13 different riders had taken turns winning the championship dirt race for 2-year-old males. Of all the Breeders' Cup races, that was the longest such active streak of different jockeys winning without a rider repeating in the sequence.

You'd have to be a true trivia wizard to recount the complete list from memory. Following Velazquez in 2010, the winning Juvenile jockeys were, in order, Ramon Dominguez, Rosie Napravnik, Martin Garcia, Kent Desormeaux, Mario Gutierrez, Julien Leparoux, Jose Ortiz, Joel Rosario, Flavien Prat, Luis Saez, Mike Smith and Irad Ortiz, Jr.

Bravo Homecoming

Joe Bravo has switched his tack back to Florida after being based in Southern California the past several seasons. It's a homecoming in terms of where the 52-year-old veteran first started riding (at Calder Race Course in 1988), and also in terms of the house Bravo owns in Ft. Lauderdale.

“I loved racing in California,” Bravo told the Del Mar notes team. “I was really grateful to be around some good people, but I just got a little homesick and wanted to come back and be closer to my family.”

After stints at Calder and Philadelphia Park, Bravo made his mark for 30-plus years as “Jersey Joe,” dominating the standings at Monmouth Park and the Meadowlands. He generally rode at Gulfstream Park during the winter months when New Jersey racing went dark for the season.

“I've been away from family and friends I grew up with my whole life and that was behind the decision as a whole,” Bravo said. “I just hope everyone understands it's more of a personal than a business decision. I might regret it. I might be thankful.”

That “Whatever will be, will be,” attitude was evident–quite literally–in Bravo's second mount back at Gulfstream.

That's because Bravo won the third race Sunday aboard Whateverwilbewilbe (Tapiture), a second-time starter who paid $13.80 to win.

The post The Week In Review: Baffert 2-Year-Old Horsepower Evident On Del Mar Opening Weekend appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions.

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MGSW and one-time Derby horse Forbidden Kingdom (American Pharoah) set the :22.86 early pace while Spirit of Makena was restrained a length behind and to his outside in second. Forbidden Kingdom continued to show the way, switching smoothly to another gear and putting a little daylight between him and his pursuer before the :45.22 half. Spirit of Makena menaced briefly alongside the pacesetter coming off the turn, but promptly put the result to bed with jockey Joe Bravo's encouragement. He tripped the six-furlong timer in 1:09.92 and sauntered home uncontested as Bravo sat chilly late for a 3 1/4-length win.

“He's a nice horse,” said winning trainer George Papaprodromou. “He won the last time doing the same thing kind of. I'm grateful to train a horse like that and I would like to thank the owners for giving me a horse like that. We are looking forward to a nice future with him.”

Had it not been for the head of hard-knocking Holden the Lute (Midnight Lute) last September in Spirit of Makena's second lifetime start, the Triple Bend winner would be undefeated. He got a five-month freshening after that lone loss. The chestnut has been perfect in all four of his starts at seven furlongs or less and came out with guns blazing in 2023–first capturing a Santa Anita optional allowance with a 98 Beyer Speed Figure and then trying and conquering graded company for the first time Mar. 11 in the San Carlos. Papaprodromou indicated he would target the GI Bing Crosby S. at Del Mar in July for the Triple Bend winner.

Pedigree Notes:

The brilliant Horse of the Year Ghostzapper, now a 23-year-old Hill 'n' Dale sire, has been represented by 96 black-type winners and 49 graded winners. Amazingly, three of his graded winners–Canadian champion and U.S. MGISW Shaman Ghost, Whiskey Ticket, and Spirit of Makena–are out of Gilded Time mares. The late Gilded Time, a flashy chestnut in the same vein as the Triple Bend winner as well as a champion 2-year-old, has quietly racked up 79 stakes winners out of his daughters, including GISW and current freshman stallion Audible (Into Mischief).

Spirit of Makena is the first stakes performer in three generations of his immediate female family, but he is a second-generation homebred for Bruce Chandler and the last named foal out of his dam. The mare does have an unnamed 3-year-old filly by Merit Man who sold at the recent CTBA Winter Mixed sale to O.J. Jauregui for $5,000.

#6 SPIRIT OF MAKENA ($3.80) makes his move in the stretch and goes on to easily win the Triple Bend Stakes (GII).

The son of Ghostzapper was ridden by Joe Bravo and is trained by George Papaprodromou. Congrats to all the connections!

Watch more on @FanDuelTV. pic.twitter.com/8je1KsOtws

— TVG (@TVG) May 27, 2023

Saturday, Santa Anita
TRIPLE BEND S.-GII, $201,000, Santa Anita, 5-27, 4yo/up, 7f, 1:23.07, ft.
1–SPIRIT OF MAKENA, 122, h, 5, by Ghostzapper
           1st Dam: Win for M'lou, by Gilded Time
           2nd Dam: Take the Picture, by Doneraile Court
           3rd Dam: I'vegotthatfeeling, by Regal Classic
O/B-Bruce Chandler (KY); T-George Papaprodromou; J-Joe Bravo. $120,000. Lifetime Record: 5-4-1-0, $347,600. Werk Nick Rating: A++. Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree or free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree.
2–C Z Rocket, 120, g, 9, City Zip–Successful Sarah, by Successful Appeal. ($800,000 2yo '16 OBSOPN). O-Altamira Racing Stable, Madaket Stables LLC, Gary Barber, and Tom Kagele; B-Farm III Enterprises (FL); T-Peter Miller. $40,000.
3–Desmond Doss, 120, h, 7, Grazen–Malley Girl, by Malek (Chi). 1ST GRADED BLACK TYPE. O/B-Nick Alexander (CA); T-Steven Miyadi. $24,000.
Margins: 3 1/4, NO, 1 1/4. Odds: 0.90, 5.30, 27.80.
Also Ran: Forbidden Kingdom, Positivity, Midnight Mammoth, Howbeit.
Click for the Equibase.com chart or the TJCIS.com PPs. VIDEO, sponsored by TVG.

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A head shy from perfection in his spaced-out career, Spirit of Makena debuted late in his 4-year-old season; not seen until an Aug. 5 maiden special at Del Mar last season. He was hounded every step of the way on his step up to allowance optional company Sept. 11 in his first trip at the mile and just couldn't hold off Holden the Lute (Midnight Lute) on the wire. Gone until Feb. 11 this year, he outdueled GSP Anarchist (Distorted Humor) in a six-panel optional claimer dash at Santa Anita to return to the winner's enclosure as his prep for this graded contest.

Taken off the front as Forbidden Kingdom was allowed to set his own pace, Spirit of Makena was never far behind and content to track off the rail to avoid hooking into a speed duel. Urged along by Joe Bravo as the pair rolled into the turn, he hit the lead by the three-sixteenths and left Forbidden Kingdom in his wake to pull clear under steady handling by 1 1/2 lengths. Forbidden Kingdom kept open ground on the rest of the field as Get Her Number rolled in from the back to close out the trifecta.

“Coming out of the last race he won, he came out of it great and he's been training great,” said conditioner George Papaprodromou, who notched his second stakes win of the meet. “He was doing great leading into this race and we tried.  Obviously, it was a tough spot [but] we gave it a shot. He ran huge and what can I say? He's a nice horse.”

Pedigree Notes:

Spirit of Makena becomes the 94th stakes winne/50th graded winner for his leading sire Ghostzapper. The Ghostzapper cross over Gilded Time is also responsible for MGISW Shaman Ghost.

The most accomplished runner from his three-time winning dam, Spirit of Makena has a 3-year-old unraced half-sister by Merit Man. He hails from the extended female family of 10-time victor and Canadian staple GSP Spigot (Plugged Nickel).

Spirit of Makena, winner of the San Carlos Stakes presented by @FanDuel (GIII) pic.twitter.com/Qs0mhJO1vY

— Santa Anita Park (@santaanitapark) March 12, 2023

Saturday, Santa Anita
SAN CARLOS S. PRESENTED BY FANDUEL-GIII, $200,500, Santa Anita, 3-11, 4yo/up, 7f, 1:22.06, gd.
1–SPIRIT OF MAKENA, 120, h, 5, by Ghostzapper
          1st Dam: Win for M'lou, by Gilded Time
          2nd Dam: Take the Picture, by Doneraile Court
          3rd Dam: I'vegotthatfeeling, by Regal Classic
1ST BLACK TYPE WIN, 1ST GRADED STAKES WIN. O/B-Bruce Chandler (KY); T-George Papaprodromou; J-Joe Bravo. $120,000. Lifetime Record: 4-3-1-0, $227,600. Werk Nick Rating: A+. Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree. Click for the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree.
2–Forbidden Kingdom, 124, c, 4, American Pharoah–Just Louise, by Five Star Day. ($300,000 Ylg '20 FTKSEL). O-MyRacehorse and Spendthrift Farm LLC; B-Springhouse Farm (KY); T-Richard E. Mandella. $40,000.
3–Get Her Number, 124, h, 5, Dialed In–Fancier, by Bernstein. ($45,000 2yo '20 OBSAPR). O-Gary Barber; B-Philip & Brenda Robertson (KY); T-Peter Miller. $24,000.
Margins: 1HF, 1 1/4, HD. Odds: 2.50, 1.80, 1.70.
Also Ran: Howbeit, Holden the Lute, Clem Labine.
Click for the Equibase.com chart and the TJCIS.com PPs. VIDEO, sponsored by TVG.

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A regulatory veterinarian is present to watch horses warm up on the level before they head up the hill—on which the Sweet Life S. was run—and then again when they get to the gate.

According to California Horse Racing Board (CHRB) equine medical director, Jeff Blea, the video appears to be from when Decorated My Life negotiated the incline on the way to post—a stage when a regulatory veterinarian can scrutinize individual horses on a TV monitor but not from the track itself.

“I spoke with the track vet and we're thinking of making a couple modifications, especially for horses that are warming up on the turf course—and the downhill turf course in particular—so maybe we can get an eye on these horses as they're going up the hill, not just on a flat surface,” said Blea, who followed-up the interview in an email with a study showing how even slight slopes can affect lameness exams in horses.

According to Blea, Decorated My Life passed multiple layers of veterinary oversight before Saturday's race, including an exam by the attending veterinarian prior to entry, another exam the morning of the race, along with regulatory scrutiny in the paddock, while warming up and behind the gate.

“She was evaluated when she got to the gate and there was no lameness present,” said Blea, about the daughter of Mehmas (Ire), trained by Simon Callaghan.

All horses entered to race must also pass the muster of a multi-person review panel who assess a horse's potential for catastrophic injury. “I was on this panel, and this horse did not present any what we consider at-risk factors,” he said.

But Blea doesn't deny the video appears to show Decorated My Life presents slight lameness in the video which was widely circulated on social media.

“What I saw is visual right front inconsistency or lameness,” said Blea, of the video. “It's a short window. It's there. You can't argue that. You can't deny that. Those are the facts.”

Dionne Benson, chief veterinary officer for 1/ST racing, said that “day-in, day-out” there are at minimum two regulatory veterinarians watching the horses on the track on race-day.

“Both vets go to the paddock. One vet then goes in the truck, follows the field. But because we realize that was a potential blind-spot, we had a camera system in the downstairs—below the winner's circle—that allows them to follow horses [on TV monitors]. But then, they could have been following a different horse when the horse was doing what is on this video. They could have been looking at a different view, a different angle,” said Benson.

Decorated My Life's jockey, Joe Bravo, was taken to hospital following the incident, and took off his mounts the following day as a precautionary measure.

“You're talking about a jockey who's not aggressive—by that, I mean he's not going to push a horse that he's not comfortable on,” said Benson. “If he didn't feel it and we didn't see in that moment what was going on—or what looked to be going on—it's very challenging to do better.”

Racing on the downhill turf course was temporarily halted in the spring of 2019, when Arms Runner suffered a catastrophic breakdown in the GIII San Simeon S. When asked if the track was considering another such moratorium, Benson pointed out that Decorated My Life was the first such injury on the course after four injury-free meets. The track also had no race-day main track fatalities last year.

“We have very strict protocols about which horses and which jockeys are allowed to go down the downhill,” said Benson. “We definitely do a good job of trying to remind the jockeys of the challenges of riding down the downhill, and that's something [ex-jockey] Aaron Gryder does very well.”

As happens with every horse that suffers a catastrophic injury in California, Decorated My Life will undergo a necropsy examination—this time at a UC Davis-affiliated facility in San Bernardino.

The CHRB will also conduct a mandatory mortality review into the incident, which includes the pulling of the horse's veterinary records and regulatory exam history, along with interviews with the attending veterinarians and other potentially involved parties.

“And then finally, the review is generally with the trainer,” said Blea. “We're taking this very seriously. One fatality is one too many. Period.”

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The Woolf Award was named in honor of the late George Woolf, known as “The Iceman,” who passed away due to a racing accident at Santa Anita in 1946. The first recipient of the award was Gordon Glisson in 1950, while Joe Bravo was the 73rd recipient this past year. The Woolf Award trophy is a replica of the life-sized statue which adorns Santa Anita's Paddock Gardens area.

The 2023 Woolf Award winner will be announced in February.

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“It really is an honor to now be part of this circle of riders, joining all of these guys that I grew up with or grew up underneath, I'll put it like that,” said Bravo. “I was lucky enough to win the East Coast version of the Woolf Award, the Mike Venezia Award in 2018, and now to be honored here on the West Coast, wow, you don't know what an honor this is. My Dad will be coming out and this makes all the hard days, the mornings that we work, it makes it all worthwhile. There's probably only one award above this that I'd like to have, and that's the Hall of Fame.”

A native of New Jersey, Bravo–whose nickname has long been “Jersey Joe”–has been a dominant force in the Mid-Atlantic, particularly at Monmouth Park, dating back to the early 1990s. He announced his move to California last year, stating it was due to a change in riding rules instituted by the New Jersey Racing Commission. Bravo, who has won 13 riding titles at Monmouth and nine at the Meadowlands, has won nearly 5,600 races.

The Woolf Award was named for the late Hall of Fame rider who is probably best known for his win aboard Seabiscuit over War Admiral in the 1938 Pimlico match race. An estimated radio audience of 40 million tuned in. Nicknamed “The Iceman,” Woolf died in 1946 from complications arising from a racing accident at Santa Anita the day prior. The Woolf Award has been presented annually by Santa Anita since 1950. The trophy is a replica of the life-sized statue of Woolf that adorns Santa Anita's Paddock Gardens area.

Deshawn Parker won the Woolf Award last year. Finalists this year included Glenn Corbett, Julien Leparoux, Rodney Prescott, and Tim Thornton.

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Bravo, 50, a 13-time leading rider in his native New Jersey, made national news when he decided to shift his tack to Southern California this past summer. “Jersey Joe” sat down for an extensive Q & A to address his past, present and racing's future Friday morning.

Q. Your father and grandfather were both jockeys. Being around the business your entire life, when did you know this is what you were going to do?

A. Really, before I could walk, I kinda knew I was going to be a jockey. There was no way at anytime in my life I was going to be a basketball player, I'll put it like that. I was kind of built for this game. All I ever wanted to do was learn about horse racing. Not too many people know this, but between the ages of 10 years old and 16, I spent that time in Texas. That was kind of my schooling, riding match races and that's where I kind of learned all my skills before I was legal age to start riding.

Q. Would you agree, that for any young jockey, there is no substitute for riding races?

A. It's the experience you get. It's like going out and doing any job, every day you learn something. That's one thing my grandfather told me, 'You can be a 100 years old in this game, and every day, you're going to learn.' You gotta be a sponge. These horses don't talk, but you gotta listen to 'em.

Q. As a young guy coming up in the business, was there any one jock or several jocks that you really admired and respected?

A. Yeah, my father (George Bravo). He really took me by the hand and took me to the right place. Every day, you learn from all these guys. The Hall of Fame riders, the Bill Shoemaker's, the Pat Day's, the Jerry Bailey's, Mike Smith…But one thing you gotta know, jockeys don't make horses go faster. There's no jock that can make a horse go quicker but a jock can make mistakes and you gotta learn by each one you ride out there. You go out there, give it your best, learn to read your animal, that's how you get the most out of 'em.

Q. You're approaching your 34th year in racing. You don't appear to be a big self-promoter. Safe to say you're a guy that likes to let his work, morning and afternoon, speak for itself?

A. The real start to the game is the horses. We're just blessed to be able to be a part of their team when they go out to race. What makes you a great rider is sitting on good horses. So if you go out there and try to ride 10 horses a day that are 30-1, some people might think, 'That's a really bad jockey cause not one of 'em won.' But most of them probably weren't in the right spot. Every horse can win a race but they have to be in the right (race). That's where a good agent and a good jock come together and try to make sure your chess pieces are in the right place when the gates open.

Q. Beyond riding good horses, what are some of the intangibles that make a top rider?

A. It's the experience that comes from reading your horse. You know what wins or loses races? Tell me how much of a turn of foot the horse has. All horses are fast…But it's being able to read them. Some horses are big, long and lanky and you can't get 'em shut down in behind horses. 'Why did that jock lose ground?' Well look at (the horse), he's built like a basketball player and he needs to get rolling. Other horses are compact and if you put them outside, they're not going to sustain a long run. And that's where experience comes in and you know the animal before the race even starts.

Q. Let's talk now. You've won 22 riding titles in New Jersey. Thirteen titles at Monmouth Park and nine at the Meadowlands. You're forever going to be Jersey Joe. When the New Jersey Racing Commission instituted the radical change with the use of the whip last year, you voted with your feet and came to Southern California last summer.

A. That's pretty much how it was. Jersey will always be home. I'm blessed to be called Jersey Joe. I love it there. There's no better place to live in the summertime than the Jersey Shore and I love Monmouth Park. But with the change in conditions, it makes it tough. (Looking ahead), I'm just hoping that all states follow the same guidelines for safety, medication and riding crop rules. It's almost like watching football and every time you go to a different state, they (would) have different rules. Why should horse racing be any different? I think we should all abide by the same rules, state by state.

Q. Looking back to last summer, you hired Matt Nakatani as your agent and you caught on quick at Del Mar. You ended up fifth in the standings with 21 wins and three stakes. One of the reasons you got off to a fast start was your tremendous ability on the grass. It just seems like win or lose, you have your horses rolling late, when it counts.

A. I do agree, I can win a lot more races on the grass than on the dirt, especially at a big meet. It's being in the right spot at the right time. It's just having a horse with a good turn of foot, you can be last turning for home on the grass…As long as you can punch through pockets when you need to. That's where experience comes in, just being able to read all of that. I take my hat off to Matt Nakatani. He got things all set up and we had a great summer.

Q. As you know, the problem now, is inventory. It's gotta be tough on a guy like you, who's used to riding live horses and riding regularly.

A. I'm gonna be honest. I'm having a little mental problem, having four days off a week. I'm a part time jock again, three days a week, it's tough…Mentally, I just need to take a step back. I am 50 years old and I don't need to be riding 10 races a day, but to have a five-day schedule would be really wonderful in a perfect world.

Q. That said, have you made a decision about where you're going to ride full time for the remainder of the year?

A. For right now, here. I'm here and we're seeing how everything plays out. Like I say, I can't tell you what tomorrow's going to bring. But it's a good living, it's California…We're all looking for that one big, good horse. And there's a couple here…We're looking for the next, best horse.

Q. Speaking of top horses, one of your greatest moments came here at Santa Anita in the 2019 Breeders' Cup Distaff with a longshot named Blue Prize. You got the jump on the even money favorite, Midnight Bisou, what did that win mean to you?

A. That was my first Breeders' Cup winner after riding for 30 years and it really was the icing on the cake, but that will tell you what special horses do. I was able to ride her in a few starts leading up to the Breeders' Cup and she was a very erratic filly, very strong filly. I was able to channel all of that on that afternoon and it's just nice to be able to get on good horses like that.

Q. Finally, the Woolf Award has been presented by Santa Anita since 1950 and most of the greatest names in the history of our game have won it. At this stage of your career, what would it mean to you to win it?

A. A close friend of mine told me that your life's like a painting. Everything you do in life is on that painting at the end of it. Wow, having that award on it, would really make it one helluva career. I think there would only be one other honor that would be bigger, and that's the Hall of Fame. So we just have to go out there and everything we do, hopefully contributes to receiving those kinds of honors.

The 73rd George Woolf Memorial Jockey Award winner will be determined next month by a vote of jockeys nationwide. The winner will be announced in a Winner's Circle ceremony at Santa Anita sometime this spring.

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Jockeys Joe Bravo, Glenn Corbett, Julien Leparoux, Rodney Prescott and Tim Thornton, riders who have plied their trade with distinction nationwide, comprise a select group of 2022 finalists.

Presented annually by Santa Anita since 1950, the Woolf Award recognizes those riders whose careers and personal character garner esteem for the individual and the sport of Thoroughbred racing. The trophy is a replica of the life-sized statue of legendary Hall of Fame jockey George Woolf which adorns Santa Anita's Paddock Gardens area.

Regarded as one of the greatest big-money riders of his era, Woolf was a household name by virtue of winning the inaugural Santa Anita Handicap aboard Azucar on Feb. 23, 1935 and for his association with the immortal Seabiscuit, whom he rode to victory over Triple Crown Champion War Admiral in a mile and three sixteenths match race at Pimlico Race Course on Nov. 1, 1938.

Affectionately known as “The Iceman,” Woolf was revered by his fellow riders, members of the media and millions of racing fans across America as a fierce competitor and consummate professional.

In a move that had national implications, Joe Bravo, a dominant force in the Mid-Atlantic and in particular at Monmouth Park since the early 1990's, announced that he would be shifting his base of operations to Southern California on a full-time basis this past summer and hired locally-based agent Matt Nakatani. Long known as “Jersey Joe,” Bravo caught on immediately at Del Mar, winning 21 races, three of them stakes while finishing fifth in the Summer Meet standings.

A great judge of pace and conditions, Bravo, 50, won 13 riding titles at Monmouth and through Dec. 19, has 5,523 career victories dating back to his debut at age 17 in 1988. A third generation rider, Bravo's biggest career win came at Santa Anita aboard Blue Prize in the 2019 Breeders' Cup Distaff.

Hard work has been the hallmark of Glenn Corbett's career, which began in May of 1985 at Penn National. Corbett, 55, was born in Georgia and soon after graduating high school, set upon a career in racing that has seen him ride at 36 different racetracks in 18 states while riding more than 1,000 races annually a total of four times. A mainstay at Prairie Meadows in Des Moines, Iowa since its opening in 1989, he's also ridden at Turf Paradise in Phoenix, Ariz. since 1992. A member of the Prairie Meadows Hall of Fame, Corbett, who considered a career in Professional Rodeo while in high school, notched his 4,000th career win at Turf Paradise on March 8.

Roundly considered one of the top riders in the world, French native Julien Leparoux, the son of a jockey who was born July 15, 1983 in Senlis, France, is a truly dominant force at Keeneland Racecourse. A leading rider at Keeneland 12 times, dating back to 2006, Leparoux ranks second by stakes wins with 66 and is Keeneland's fourth all time leading jockey with 507 wins. At age 38, Leparoux has 2,840 wins through Dec. 19 and has amassed $179,307,259 in career earnings.

Born March 8, 1974 in Portland, Ind., Rodney Prescott is the Hoosier State's all-time leading rider and once again ranked among the top 10 jockeys at the recently concluded Indiana Grand race meeting. After a stint as a groom after graduating high school, Prescott broke his maiden at age 20 at River Downs, near Cincinnati. A three-time leading rider at Indiana Grand (2004, 2005 & 2018), Prescott registered his 4,000th career winner there on Nov. 4.

A native of Lake Charles, La., Tim Thornton is very much a rider on the ascendency, evidenced by the fact he set a single day record this past Oct. 23 by winning seven races at Delta Downs. Formerly a regular at Chicago-area tracks, he broke his maiden on June 13, 2003 and registered his 2,000th career victory this past Feb. 16 at Delta Downs and notched his third consecutive Delta riding title in April. In 2018, he ranked second to Eclipse Award winner Irad Ortiz with 286 wins and was 40th nationally in purse money-won with $4.9 million.

With Gordon Glisson winning the inaugural Woolf Award in 1950, DeShawn Parker won the 2021 Woolf Memorial Award, thus becoming its 72nd recipient.

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