Joe Bravo joins with agent Brian Beach, will stay in California

Jockey Joe Bravo, a longtime New Jersey rider who has hung his tack regularly in southern California since 2021, will now be represented by agent Brian Beach. Bravo said he plans to remain in Southern California to ride this summer.

Beach represents both Bravo and Victor Espinoza, as reported on Twitter by Steve Andersen of Daily Racing Form. Bravo confirmed to Horse Racing Nation on Friday that Beach will have his book.

Joe Bravo moved to the Southern California circuit in 2021 after Monmouth Park enacted the strictest riding-crop rules in the country. The track banned the use of the crop for encouragement, allowing it only in cases when it was needed for safety.

Monmouth Park's crop rules are not as restricted as they were in that 2021 meet. The track now uses the Horseracing Integrity and Safety Authority regulations, which limit but do not ban the use of the crop for encouragement. However, this change of rules does not have Bravo planning to return to New Jersey.

"I'm looking forward to another great summer in Southern California," Bravo said.

Since moving to Southern California, Bravo has won eight graded stakes. That includes one top-level victory in the 2022 Bing Crosby (G1), which he won with American Theorem. Going into Friday, Bravo was tied for 10th in the Santa Anita riding standings with eight wins in 53 starts.