Monmouth Park is set to host its final week of Thoroughbred racing in 2004, and the activities will continue right through closing day on Sunday.

Four stakes races will complement the final weekend’s races: the $60,000 Girl Powder Handicap for N.J.-bred older fillies and mares going six furlongs, the $60,000 Without Feathers at a mile and 70 yards for 3-year-olds and up, the $60,000 Just Smashing Stakes for 3-year-olds and up sprinting six furlongs, and the $60,000 Forward Gal Stakes for 3-year-old fillies at six furlongs.

Jockey Joe Bravo, who took off his mounts after the first race last Wednesday and all of his mounts Thursday, was back in the saddle on Friday and is poised to walk away with his 10th riding title come meets-end on Sunday.

Bravo injured his right foot on Sept. 12 prior to the running of the Mongo Queen Stakes, but rode Seducer’s Song to win the Boiling Springs (G3) in the following event. He bruised his right foot in the incident and opted off his mounts Wednesday after riding the opener.

“I’m just glad I’m healthy,” said Bravo, a 33-year-old native of Monmouth County. “That’s all I can ask for. I’m fortunate to ride the horses I ride. It’s been a great year for me here.”

A great year indeed. Bravo racked up the biggest win of his career on Aug. 8, when he piloted Lion Heart to victory in the Haskell Invitational, the jock’s first victory in Monmouth’s signature race.

In addition, Bravo’s mounts this summer have earned $3,697,307, besting his own record of $3,388,310 set in 2003. From 397 mounts at Monmouth this year, Bravo has piloted 94 winners, a 24 percent win clip. He’s 16 wins clear of his nearest competitor, two-time Monmouth champion Eibar Coa. Stewart Elliott is third with 77 wins, while rounding out the top five are Chuck Lopez with 65 wins and Julian Pimentel with 51 victories.

Lopez, who suffered a dislocated shoulder in the first race on Saturday, will miss the remainder of the Monmouth meet, but will be back to defend his title at the Meadowlands, when that opens on Oct. 1.

Over in the trainers’ race, Tim Hills holds an eight-win lead over Gammy Vazquez and a nine-win lead over Eddie Broome. From 174 starts, Hills’ charges have seen the winner’s circle on 35 occasions. He captured the training title here in 2002 with 28 wins.

In fourth place in the trainers’ race is Richard Dutrow Jr. with 22 wins, followed by Joe Orseno with 20 victories.

The owners’ race is once again a runaway for Michael Gill, who shattered all records for an owner last year here.

Presentations to this year’s leaders will be made in the winner’s circle on Sunday.

Also slated for closing day will be a pair of Steeplechase races, which have not been run at Monmouth in nearly a decade. The races will include an allowance/optional claiming event and the Metcalf, a Grade 3 race.

As always, post time for the final week of racing will be 12:55 p.m.