Bravo wins second stakes aboard Speaking of Which

OCEANPORT, N.J. – Joe Bravo has ridden sparingly at Monmouth Park this season, but he made the most of his Sunday visit the to the track he long ruled by guiding Speaking of Which to a decisive victory in the Grade 2, $200,000 Monmouth Stakes for trainer Christophe Clement.

Bravo has only ridden the 5-year-old Moyglare Stud homebred twice but has taken down a graded stakes each time. Those victories are Speaking of Which's only two wins in his last six starts. Bravo's first victory aboard Speaking of Which came in the Grade 3 Tropical Turf at Calder in December.

"I tried to ride him the same way I did in the Tropical Turf," Bravo said while making his way back to the jockeys' quarters after the Monmouth. "I took a hold and then let him go."

And go Speaking of Which did. Bravo's well-timed outside move sent Speaking of Which to the lead in mid-stretch, and he was strong to the wire, winning by 1 1/2 lengths and leaving his 13 rivals strung out behind him in the 1 1/8-mile turf race. Longshot Hangover Kid came up the inside to snatch second by a half-length from Winning Cause, who was in contention throughout.

Lochte, the 2-1 favorite who was making his first start in almost two months, dropped back after a half-mile and only beat one horse.

Speaking of Which paid $9.60 as the second choice and was timed in 1:46.32 over firm ground. He covered his final eighth in a racehorse 11.67 seconds.

The Monmouth Stakes is the local prep for the Grade 1 United Nations on July 6. Speaking of Which has been racing at middle distances in his recent races, but the style he displayed Saturday suggests the 1 3/8 miles of the United Nations may be within his reach. As a 3-year-old in 2012, he was a Group 3 winner at The Curragh in his native Ireland going 1 1/4 miles.

And if he does return to New Jersey for the U.N., it is likely the local railbirds will get another chance to shout encouragement to a longtime favorite, Jersey Joe Bravo.