'Jersey Joe' Bravo Moves Tack Out West

Joe Bravo, a native of Long Branch, N.J., and a leading rider in the Garden State for two decades, will soon join the Southern California jockey colony on a regular basis under the direction of agent Matt Nakatani, who also represents Mario Gutierrez.

The son and grandson of jockeys, 49-year-old "Jersey Joe" Bravo began his career at Calder Race Course in late 1988 and has won nearly 5,500 races, capturing nine riding titles at The Meadowlands and 13 at Monmouth Park.

"With the 'no whip rule' in effect in New Jersey right now, I knew he wasn't going to ride there," said 29-year-old Nakatani, who has been an agent for five years, three with Gutierrez. He is the son of retired riding great Corey Nakatani.

"Joe and I spoke, he reached out to a couple people here, and the rest is history. It kind of all fell into place.

"I was looking for someone who would pair well with Mario and find a guy like my dad who rides three, four, five a day and stakes horses, and I think Joe is at that stage in his career.

"Everything is going well. Mario is happy to have Joe on the team. He'll be here closing weekend (at Santa Anita Park), ride a few, head back to New Jersey where he might ride a few stakes back east, then come out here full time starting at Del Mar (July 16)."