Mio Coraggio, ridden by Vicente Barros, winning the São Paulo GP, the first leg of Brazil's Triple Crown Series.

@Clicks do Turfe

written by Turfeeunapolis

SÃO PAULO, BRAZIL–OCTOBER 12, 2025–A consistent contender among his generation, Mio Coraggio finally broke through with a commanding performance in Saturday’s GP São Paulo (G1) at the Jockey Club de Sorocaba, securing victory in the first leg of Brazil’s Triple Crown series for 2022-born foals.

The Granite Lake colt qualified impressively on September 27, winning his trial wire to wire in 16.890 seconds for 330 yards (301 meters), ranking as the third-fastest qualifier among four trial winners.

Returning for the R$135,000 (US$25,430) finals at Jockey Club de Sorocaba, Mio Coraggio faced Encantada For Me PK, the fastest qualifier, along with Lasvegas Cowgirl MRL and stablemate Apollitical Jr. Breaking sharply under jockey Vicente Barros, Mio Coraggio took control early and never looked back, drawing clear to secure his first Grade 1 title in 16.860 seconds.

Trainer Flavio Melo saddled Mio Coraggio for owner-breeder Haras Prata, adding yet another major trophy to the collection of legendary breeder and owner Érico Braga, whose Haras Prata breeding program is approaching five decades of excellence.

The champion connections of Mio Coraggio celebrate the São Paulo GP title, with legend Érico Braga lifting the trophy. © Alx Fotografia

“This colt is truly something special,” said Eriquinho Braga, heir to Haras Prata. “He’s out of Jess Because, by Mr Jess Perry, a mare who has produced nine stakes winners so far, making her one of the top broodmares in the country. She also produced Make Me, Brazil’s top filly of 2024, and this season’s G Force Cantinero, winner of the Challenger Championship in Argentina.”

Trainer Flavio Melo lifts the winning trophy at Sorocaba Racecourse. © Clicks do Turfe

Trainer Flavio Melo, Brazil’s 2024 Quarter Horse Trainer of the Year, added, “We always knew what kind of horse he was. He ran an easy trial, and today he confirmed his potential with this beautiful win.”

CLICK HERE for video footage of Mio Coraggio and his connections winning the GP Sao Paulo.

Mio Coraggio (Granite Lake x Jess Because, by Mr Jess Perry). © Alx Fotografia

Mio Coraggio began his career in March by winning a trial for the GP Torneio Início—the kickoff event of Brazil’s national racing calendar.

He later finished third in that event’s final and repeated the same finish in the prestigious Megarace (G1), one of South America’s richest Quarter Horse events with a purse of R$1,000,000 (US$180,000).

Saturday’s victory marked his first Grade 1 triumph, boosting his career earnings to R$160,900 (US$29,120) with four wins from seven starts.

His sire Granite Lake (First Down Dash–Clever Miss, by Kaskakia), the most accomplished sire in Brazilian Quarter Horse history, raced in the United States from 2002 to 2004, earning US$104,778 with wins including the West Texas Derby at Sunland Park.

His dam Jess Because (Mr Jess Perry–Ally Bye Bye, by Chicks Beduino) earned US$77,736 in the U.S., capturing both the All American Quarter Horse Congress Derby and Bradford Stakes.

Haras Prata, the powerhouse breeding and racing operation behind Mio Coraggio, also made headlines in 2025 with the highest-grossing Quarter Horse auction in Brazilian history, totaling R$17.37 million (US$3.14 million).

The farm campaigned multiple champion Fantastic Feature (Fantastic Corona Jr–Featuringmissjess, by Mr Jess Perry), a two-time Champion of Champions winner in Brazil with 17 victories, a SI-107, R$974,212 (US$192,000) in earnings, and two track records at Sorocaba.

Runner-up Encantada For Me PK notched her third consecutive Grade 1 runner-up finish after placing second in both the Brazilian Futurity (G1) and GP ABQM Potro do Futuro (G1). The daughter of Corona For Me out of Miss Encantada PK (by Tres Seis) continues to shine for trainer Marcos Tavares, who previously conditioned superstar Miss Isao JQM to sweep Brazil’s Triple Crown in 2022 with a perfect 10-for-10 campaign.

Apollitical Jr finished third in 16.979 seconds, followed closely by Lasvegas Cowgirl MRL in 16.993.

Mio Coraggio stopped the clock in 16.860 seconds to capture the GP São Paulo (G1), the opening leg of Brazil’s Triple Crown Series for three-year-olds. The series continues with the Brazilian GP, featuring trials on October 25 and the final on November 8, followed by the Consagração GP, with trials on November 22 and the final on December 6.

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