Rafael Bejarano
Jockey Rafael Bejarano notched career win 2,000 when he captured the fifth race at Hollywood Park July 9 with favored Good Time Sally for trainer Kathy Walsh.
Bejarano completed a three-win day for Walsh by guiding Bootleg Annie to a front-running victory in the $68,324 allowance feature.
Good Time Sally, a 4-year-old daughter of Forestry , won a $48,400 maiden special event for fillies and mares. She stalked along the inside for Bejarano, angling out for the stretch drive and drawing off in the final sixteenth of a mile for a 3 3/4-length win. The dark bay filly is owned by Ferro Family Trust, John Sikura and Walsh.
Bejarano, a 27-year-old native of Arequipa, Peru, rode his first winner in 2001 at Hipodromo de Monterrico in his homeland. He began riding in Southern California during Hollywood Park’s 2007 autumn meet, swept the five major Southern California riding titles in 2008 and won the recent Santa Anita meeting crown. He trails Joel Rosario by a 69-63 margin with seven days remaining at the 55-day spring/summer Meet.
“I am very happy to be here,” he said. “My agent (Joe Ferrer) has done a great job.”
His richest win came aboard Ginger Punch in the $2 million Breeders' Cup Distaff (gr. I) for trainer Bobby Frankel in 2007. Bejarano and Ginger Punch teamed to win six grade I races in 2007-08. Bejarano won the Breeders' Cup Filly & Mare Turf aboard Intercontinental for Frankel in 2005.
Other grade victories came with He also guided Dominican, Forest Danger , Monzante, Precious Kitten, Country Star, Hystericalady, Heatseeker , Double Trouble, Host and Colonial Colony. Bejarano won his 1,000th race at Keeneland on Oct. 14, 2005.
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