Bravo returning to California

The list of veteran riders aiming for Del Mar this summer is growing.

Joe Bravo, who has won 5,749 races in a career that began in 1988, said on Thursday that he plans to move from South Florida to California next month for the start of the Del Mar summer meeting on July 17. Earlier this week, Julien Leparoux said he plans to leave Kentucky for California in coming weeks.

Bravo was based in Southern California from 2021 to 2023. During that time, he rode 52 winners at Del Mar. Bravo won six stakes at Del Mar in those years, including the Grade 1 Bing Crosby Stakes with American Theorem in 2022.

“I’m hoping to team up with those people when I get back,” he said. “It’s a great riding colony and training colony. I’d love to be part of it. What’s better than Del Mar? There are two locations you want to be that time of year, Saratoga and Del Mar, and Saratoga doesn’t have a beach.”

:: Play Santa Anita racing with confidence. Get DRF Past Performances, Clocker Reports, and more.

Bravo, who said he plans to travel to California on July 6, will be represented by agent Riley Shapiro, who also books mounts for Tyler Baze.

Bravo, 54, has won 14 races from 132 mounts this year riding at Gulfstream Park. He said results have not met expectations. Last year, Bravo won 35 races. From 2021 to 2023, while riding primarily in California, Bravo’s win total ranged from 55 in 2023 to 63 in 2021.

Gulfstream Park currently races three days a week. Del Mar will race four days on most weeks through Sept. 7. This weekend, Bravo has three mounts at Gulfstream Park from Friday through Sunday.

“I’d like to be busier,” he said. “They only race three days a week here. You feel a little handcuffed.”

Bravo said he plans to ride in California through Del Mar before assessing plans for the autumn. He said he could return to Gulfstream Park for the winter.

“Let’s not think too far ahead,” he said. “You have to follow the horses you team up with.”

:: Want to learn more about handicapping and wagering? Check out DRF's Handicapping 101 and Wagering 101 pages.