Tag: People

Jockey Joe Bravo has enjoyed a history of success on David Fawkes-trained horses at Gulfstream Park and beyond over the years, so it was only fitting that the veteran rider would score his first victory since returning from Southern California aboard a Fawkes trainee.

Bravo, who has ridden the winners of 5627 races and more than $199.7 million in purses, guided Whateverwilbewillbe to victory with a heads-up ride in Sunday's Race 3 of Gulfstream Park's nine-race program. Bravo broke through with his first win back at Gulfstream on only his second mount.

“It's nice to be home, but it's even better to do it for friends,” said the 52-year-old jockey who began is career in South Florida in 1988. “Look at the horse he put me on. I was just able to sit there. It made my job easier.”

Bravo eased Whateverwilbewillbe off a contested early pace in the seven-furlong maiden claiming race to attain a ground-saving trip behind the speed into the far turn. Midway on the turn, Brave slipped his mount inside the tiring pacesetter on his way to a 1 ¼-length victory.

Bravo made a most successful foray into the Southern California Thoroughbred racing circuit after leaving the East Coast in 2021, winning several graded stakes, including the 2022 Big Crosby (G1) aboard American Theorem.

“I was thankful, but when it came right down to it, off days in California became pretty quiet for me. I just wanted to be around the people I love and know, and that's the reason I'm here,” Bravo said. “I'm excited to be back here racing.”

Bravo added to his impressive resume in 2015 and 2016 aboard Fawkes-trained Sheer Drama, who won the 2015 Royal Delta (G2) before capturing three-straight Grade 1 victories in 2016.

Bravo and Fawkes are long-time fishing buddies in addition to being a successful jockey-trainer duo.

“I have to cut his bait. He has me cleaning the boat. It's horrible,” Bravo quipped.

The post ‘I Just Wanted To Be Around The People I Love’: Joe Bravo Rides First Winner Since Returning To South Florida appeared first on Horse Racing News | Paulick Report.

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Veteran jockey Edgar Perez reached the 1,000-win career milestone Sunday at Gulfstream Park when he guided EAC Racing Stable LLC's Desert Ruler ($8.40) to a 2½-length victory in Race 7.

“I'm a very, very happy man,” Perez said. “Thank you, Lord. Thanks to my family, the owner, the trainer, and everybody. To win 1,000 races in the United States, unbelievable.”

Based on the Chicago circuit for several years, the 43-year-old journeyman has established a strong year-round presence at Gulfstream Park since moving to South Florida upon the closure of Arlington Park.

Perez had established prominence in his native Venezuela, where he was the regular rider of Gustavo Delgado-trained Bambera, a Venezuelan-bred standout whom he guided to her ninth top-level victory in the 2009 Clasico del Caribe at Camarero, a Grade 1 race in Puerto Rico.

Perez, who is represented by agent Rene Douglas, ventured to the U.S. in 2009 after winning 1,300 races in Venezuela. He scored his first U.S. victory on his very first stateside mount, Macho Prince, at Calder Race Course.

The post Jockey Perez Notches 1,000th Career Win At Gulfstream Park appeared first on Horse Racing News | Paulick Report.

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Abel Cedillo was to ride at Del Mar on Sunday and then pack up his tack and move east to Florence, Kentucky and Turfway Park for the winter meeting, which starts on Nov. 29.

He has every intention of returning to the seaside oval next summer but said the timing just seemed right to try something new.

“I just want to go because I've never gone out of California,” Cedillo said. “I'm still young, so I don't want to wait until I'm too old to make the move. I'll take my chance right now.”

It's not the first “chance” the 34-year-old jockey has taken in his career. In 2019, after capturing the riding title up at Golden Gate Fields, Cedillo moved to the highly competitive Southern California circuit where he made quite a splash. He finished third at his first meeting, Del Mar's summer session, then tied for the top spot during Santa Anita's autumn meet only to return to Del Mar and win the Bing Crosby Season's riding crown.

“One of the agents at Turfway Park (Jimmy McNerney) called me and said he had some good people who could help me,” Cedillo said. “He asked if I wanted to come with him. I was trying to go to Oaklawn, but I decided with my family to go to Kentucky.”

Cedillo was off to a decent start this past summer at Del Mar. After two days of racing he had won two races and was looking forward to another successful meet. But it all came to a crashing halt on day three when his mount in the fourth race clipped heels with another horse shortly after the start of the race, unseating Cedillo, who landed awkwardly on his head.

He suffered a broken bone in his neck and was sidelined for the remainder of the meet. He avoided having surgery and instead went through a rigorous rehab.

“It took six weeks,” Cedillo said. “I was working out in the gym by myself and doing my routine. Sometimes in the morning I get up and I'm a little sore. But soon as I start working I feel better. I feel a 100 percent now.”

Cedillo returned to the races on Sept. 22 at Los Alamitos and went on to ride at Santa Anita, but only managed one win from 27 mounts.

The post ‘I’ll Take My Chance Right Now’: California-Based Cedillo To Shift Tack To Turfway Winter Meet appeared first on Horse Racing News | Paulick Report.

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There will be a noticeable absence in the Del Mar Jockey's room this fall. Joe Bravo has returned home. After 35 years of building a solid riding career, the veteran jockey has moved back to Florida where it all started.

“I loved racing in California,” Bravo says. “I was really grateful to be around some good people, but I just got a little homesick and wanted to come back and be closer to my family.”

Bravo turned 52 in September. He began his riding career at Calder Race Course in Miami Gardens back in 1988, but a year later he had moved his tack north to Philadelphia Park, Garden State Park, the Meadowlands, and Atlantic City. For the next 30 years he plied his craft on the East Coast, returning to Gulfstream Park in the winter but then back up north by the spring.

He became known as 'Jersey Joe' for all of the success he enjoyed in the Garden State, particularly at Monmouth Park where he won 13 riding titles. He had nine more at the Meadowlands. In 2019, Bravo moved his tack west and began riding full time in Southern California.

“I've been comfortable out there in California,” Bravo says. “It's more of a personal thing. I've been away from family and friends I grew up with my whole life and that was behind the decision as a whole.”

He takes with him fond memories of his two years riding in California, two of which are highlights of his career; winning his first Breeders' Cup race aboard Blue Prize in the 2019 Distaff (G1) and being named recipient of the George Woolf Memorial Jockey Award, which is determined by a vote of jockeys nationwide and presented to the rider who has plied their trade with distinction.

“I was lucky enough to get the Mike Venezia (Memorial) Award in New York,” Bravo said about the honor, which presented annually to a jockey who displays the extraordinary sportsmanship and citizenship that personified its namesake. “Then my first year out in California to cap that off (with the George Woolf) was really a nice welcome.

“There have been a lot (of good memories),” Bravo continues. “A couple of Grade Is. Mr. George Papaprodromou and I could make some highlight reels.”

Bravo won a total of six graded stakes on Papaprodromou's American Theorem, Cabo Spirit, and Spirit of Makena.

“It's always fun dealing with good horses,” Bravo says, “and it just seems like everyone out there loves horse racing. I wish they had a little bit more of it, but the people involved with it really do love their horses.“

Bravo owns a home in Ft. Lauderdale and plans to ride at Gulfstream Park this winter.

“It's more of who am I going to get a hamburger and coffee with more than the racing of it all,” Bravo explains. “I just hope everyone understands it's more of a personal than a business decision. I might regret it. I might be thankful.”

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