Bravo Returns from Saudi Arabia
The resumption of live racing to Gulfstream Park on Wednesday also marked the return to South Florida of jockey Joe Bravo, four days after making his debut at King Abdul Aziz Racecourse in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.
Bravo, 42, finished fifth aboard 3-year-old Dynever filly Maroweh in the Group 1 King Abdul Aziz Cup, where another Gulfstream-based rider, Alan Garcia, was 11th on Awjab.
Earlier on the card, Bravo won the 1,400-meter Prince A Allah Bin Saud Bin A Allah Prize on Aezah, a 6-year-old daughter of Dynever who is a half-sister to multiple Grade 1 winner Bellamy Road.
“The first one they call a warm-up race, and she won very impressively,” Bravo said. “The horse in the big race got beat about two lengths. She had some excuses, but I hope I left a good enough impression to be invited back. It was a great experience.”
Currently sixth at the Champions meet with $1,245,801 in purse earnings and 12th with 20 wins from 208 mounts, Bravo rode at Gulfstream on March 6 before leaving on an 8:40 flight that evening from Miami. The 7,500-mile trip took about 19 hours, landing at 10:40 p.m. on March 9 in Saudi Arabia, seven hours ahead of the Eastern time zone.
After riding Saturday’s card, Bravo left on a 6 p.m. (EST) flight that went through London and landed back in Miami at 3:30 Sunday afternoon.
“It was a pretty interesting go around the world,” Bravo said. “I’ve been to Dubai three times and you think, ‘OK, it’s the Middle East. It’s pretty much the same,’ but it’s two different worlds. It was the first time I was ever there, and they love the racing; they really do. It was really fun. They have a great facility, and it was an all-around positive experience going there and checking everything out.”
The opportunity to ride in Saudi Arabia came from trainer Nicholas Bachalard and exercise rider Jorge Duarte, who both work for King Abdullah Al Saud. Bachalard formerly was an assistant to trainer Christophe Clement, while Bravo rode with Duarte in South Florida. Duarte won several stakes in Florida, including the 1992 Palm Beach Stakes at Gulfstream aboard Preferences.
“They told me about it maybe 10 days before I left,” Bravo said. “For a last-minute thing, it was a really great experience. They have some nice horses, they really do.”
Florida Derby Golf, Poker Tournaments to benefit PDJF
A week of activities leading up to the $1 million Besilu Stables Florida Derby March 29 will kick off with two events benefitting the Permanently Disabled Jockeys Fund.
On Tuesday, March 25 the fourth annual Florida Derby Golf Tournament will be held at the Westin Diplomat Golf Resort. There will be tournament prizes, closest to the pin and longest drive awards as well a light lunch and beverages. Registration is 10:30 a.m. for a shotgun start at noon. Cost per golfer is $130. For more information contact Nancy LaSala at 650.595.7660.
The following evening, Wednesday, March 26 will be a charity poker tournament again benefitting the PDJF. The tournament starts at 6:30 p.m. with a buy-in of $150 and unlimited buy-ins during the first three rounds. For additional information call 954.457.6336.