Synchrony gives jockey Bravo turf-stakes sweep

Jockey Joe Bravo completed a sweep of the two Grade 3 turf stakes at Monmouth Park on Saturday by giving Synchrony a rail-hugging ride in the $100,000 Red Bank over a mile of turf. The victory was strikingly similar to Synchrony's win in the Grade 3 Oceanport on July 29.

Two races earlier on Saturday's card, Bravo won the $100,000 Violet aboard Elysea's World for trainer Chad Brown. Bravo would come back in the race following the Red Bank to win the $75,000 Sapling on Unionizer for Bill Mott.

Trainer Mike Stidham made a decision to shorten Synchrony up in distance after he finished third in the 1 3/16-mile Arlington Handicap in early July. The move seems to have worked as Synchrony has displayed a wicked late kick in his two races since.

Stidham now intends to point Synchrony to the Grade 1, $1 million Shadwell Mile at Keeneland on Oct. 6 and would like to see him progress to the $2 million Breeders' Cup Mile on Nov. 3 at Churchill Downs

"We needed to see something like that today," Stidham said. "I got a little worried late, but then he exerted himself and kicked forward. Joe fits him like a glove."

Abiding Star shot to the lead in the eight-horse Red Bank and set realistic splits of 23.44 and 46.97 seconds while being tracked by Conquest Enforcer. Synchrony, meanwhile, had broken a bit slowly and was saving ground in fifth position.

On the far turn Synchrony began to advance along the inside as Irish Strait took on the leaders with a three-wide bid. Bravo had no way to get outside, so he committed to the inside for the stretch run. He was up to collar Abiding Star in midstretch and then pulled away, with Bravo easing up on him late as he scored by 1 1/2 lengths.

"He was a little farther back today than the last time," Bravo said. "He's a killer horse. I had a little trouble holding the turn but everyone did because they were running fast."

Synchrony is a 5-year-old son of Tapit who was bred and is owned by the Pin Oak Stud of Josephine Abercrombie, who was on hand for the race. He paid $3.20 as the prohibitive favorite and covered the distance in a sizzling 1:33.61. Synchrony made up about two lengths through a final quarter-mile of 22.90 seconds.

Irish Strait, who won the Red Bank a year ago, finished third, 1 1/4 lengths behind Abiding Star. Conquest Enforcer, who challenged for the lead on the far turn, tired to finish last.

Sapling: Unionizer much the best

Unionizer was fractious in the gate prior to the start of the $75,000 Sapling, a mile race for 2-year-olds, and was backed out and reloaded. He then was a bit headstrong early. But he also was the best horse in the field and went on to win by 1 1/2 lengths.

Unionizer, a son of Union Rags who was bred by and races for Peter Vesgo, led throughout to win a seven-furlong maiden race at Saratoga on Aug. 11. He now has a two-turn win under his belt.

Mooji Moo Jr. went to the early lead in the Sapling while Joe Bravo took a hard hold of Unionizer and stalked him. Unionizer appeared to settle about midway on the backstretch for Bravo, who sent him to the lead on the far turn. He continued well to defeat 6-5 favorite Successful Zip, who raced well.

Successful Zip trailed the field early, lodged an eye-catching five-wide move after the winner on the far turn and then finished willingly in the stretch to be second-best, 3 1/4 lengths ahead of 2-1 Stage Left.

Unionizer paid $7 and covered the mile in 1:452.54 following fractions of 24.54, 49.59 and 1:15.26.