Before Turco Bravo left his native Chile for the United States last Autumn, his resume reflected 10 wins in the land of his birth. He was acquired by Gary Contessa for Winning Move Stable following his solid third at Gulfstream Park West, and was brought north to begin his American career in earnest.
On Sunday, March 22, the chestnut showed new fans his genetic connection to American heroes Danzig, Mr. Prospector and Alydar as he closed resoundingly to win the 2015 edition of the Stymie Stakes at Aqueduct. The 1 1/8 mile, inner track Stymie (Race 3), in which Turco Bravo went off from post position 4 at 12/1, showed the horse biding his time along the rail behind a sensible pace set by Cousin Stephen of 24.36 seconds for the opening quarter-mile, 49.13 for the half, and 1:13.99 for three-quarters.
The horses held their status until just before the field turned for home. Jockey Jose Ortiz knew his mount well, and got him off the rail, knowing that given some freedom–Turco Bravo would want to charge. And charge he did: taking off after the pacesettser, Turco Bravo collared him several strides before the wire and won by 1/2 length, paying $21.60. Turco Bravo, a son of Irish-bred sire Caesarion, completed the distance in 1:51.80 and showed once again that Gary Contessa has a keen eye for stakes-level equine talent.
Gary reported that, “Today, he got the trip. He got the perfect trip, and he’d been training great. He was[entered] yesterday at Laurel, too, but we decided to scratch and run here. I think the more distance for him, the better. These South American horses want to run all day long. Today was 1 1/8 miles, and I wouldn’t mind seeing him at 1 ¼ miles, either. I liked the way he closed in his first race in this country [at Gulfstream Park West, October 11, 2014]; the price was right, and we bought him looking ahead to the winter here. Then, we went the whole winter without winning a stake with him, so I’m glad he got the chance to vindicate himself.”
Jose Ortiz was delighted: “He broke good. I couldn’t go to the lead but I didn’t want to. I just followed the No. 5 horse [Cousin Stephen] all the way, and I got a little room at the three-sixteenth pole. I decided to go and the horse responded very well.”
Congratulations to all of Turco Bravo’s connections. Now that the horse has experienced the rush of victory on an American track, we predict more good things from him, and more victories for Winning Move Stable.