by Michael Burns

Joe Bravo burst clear in the stretch en route to a dominant 2 1/4-length victory in the Grande Premio Estado do Rio de Janeiro (Brz-G1), the first leg of that track's Triple Crown series for three-year-old males on the turf, on Sunday at La Gavea.

Confidently ridden by Tiago Josue Pereira, the three-year-old Vettori (Ire) colt put away pacesetter Refuge Cove with 1 1/2 furlongs remaining and pulled away to earn a visually impressive victory.

Longshots Rooney and Hampesco closed ground late to finish second and third, respectively.

Sent off as the favorite in the field of 11, Joe Bravo completed 1,600 meters (7.95 furlongs) in 1:33.10 on turf rated as soft.

Conditioned by five-time leading trainer Venancio Nahid, who saddled his 2,000 career winner, Joe Bravo recorded his first stakes win and third victory from ten career starts for owner Haras Internacional.

Nahid, 47, a two-time winner of the Grande Premio Brasil (Brz-G1), Rio de Janeiro`s premier race, added his second victory in the Estado do Rio de Janeiro after previously sending out Pavillon (Brz) to win the 1997 edition.

Joe Bravo is expected to make his next start on March 16 in the Grande Premio Francisco Eduardo de Paula Machado (Brz-G1), the second leg of Rio de Janeiro's Triple Crown for sophomore colts.

Bred in Brazil by Stud Mega, Joe Bravo is out of Group 3-placed winner Brave Lady, by Roi Normand

Michael Burns is a South America-based Thoroughbred Times correspondent