Hall of Famer Solis to ride in Southern California

DEL MAR, Calif. – Jockey Alex Solis, who was inducted into racing’s Hall of Fame earlier this month, will resume riding in Southern California in the coming weeks, according to his new agent, Brandon O’Bryan.

Solis, was a fixture in Southern California from the early 1980s until April 2010, when he moved to the East Coast. This year, Solis has ridden in Florida and New York. He has had one win at the current Saratoga meeting.

O’Bryan said Sunday that Solis will begin working horses at Del Mar later this week. Solis, 50, intends to ride during the Los Alamitos September meeting and will emphasize the Santa Anita autumn meeting, O’Bryan said.

A return to Southern California could revive a quiet stretch of Solis’ career.

Solis has won three riding titles at the Santa Anita winter-spring meeting, two at Del Mar’s summer meeting, and eight career titles at the closed Hollywood Park.

His mounts earned a career-best $16.3 million in 2003, the year he rode Pleasantly Perfect to a win the Breeders’ Cup Classic at Santa Anita. In 2013, Solis’ mounts earned $3.3 million. This year, his mounts have earned $1,355,674.

“It is a challenge, but he’s a Hall of Fame rider,” O’Bryan said. “With a little luck and hard work, we can get going.”