Jockey Bravo caps solid day by riding Pappacap to Best Pal triumph

DEL MAR, Calif. - Jersey Joe has settled in pretty nicely in California.

Jockey Joe Bravo, long a mainstay in New Jersey, on Saturday at Del Mar had his best day yet since relocating to this circuit, riding three winners, most notably Pappacap in the Grade 2, $200,000 Best Pal Stakes for 2-year-olds.

Pappacap, trained by newly inducted Hall of Famer Mark Casse, had run once previously, scoring a front-running win May 14 at Gulfstream Park, before heading out here the middle of July. He worked twice over the local track, then comfortably swatted away five rivals, rolling to a 4 3/4-length victory over Finneus in this track's major prep for next month's Grade 1 Del Mar Futurity.

Bet On Mookie faded to third, 1 1/2 lengths behind Finneus. Thirsty Always, Aquitania Arrival, and Our Empire completed the field, in that order. Olympic Legend was a late scratch after flipping behind the gate just prior to being loaded.

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Pappacap covered six furlongs on the fast main track in 1:11.66 and got a Beyer Speed Figure of 70.

Pappacap ($6.60) sat third in the early going, then motored past Bet On Mookie and Thirsty Always coming off the bend and widened. His ability to rate "was the most-impressive part," Bravo said.

Bravo - represented by agent Matt Nakatani, son of former riding star Corey - said he's enjoying the new circuit.

"It's nice out here," he said as he hustled back to the jockeys' room to prepare for the next race. "We'll take what they give us."

Pappacap, from the first crop of the white-hot sire Gun Runner, is a homebred of the Rustlewood Farm of George and Karen Rustle.

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