Bejarano sweeps Southern California riding titles

Bejarano has guided numerous runners into the winner’s circle in 2008 (Benoit Photo)

Jockey Rafael Bejarano, who did not ride Sunday’s closing-day program at
Hollywood Park, completed a sweep of the five major Southern California meetings
by riding 52 winners at the Inglewood track’s 40-day fall meet.

Bejarano, a 26-year-old native of Arequipa, Peru., moved his tack west during
the 2007 fall meet and became just the third jockey to sweep the Santa Anita
winter/spring meet, the Hollywood Park spring/summer meet, Del Mar, Oak Tree and
the Hollywood Park fall meet. Hall of Fame jockey Chris McCarron was the first
to do so in 1983 and Patrick Valenzuela matched the feat in 2003.

Bejarano broke his maiden on La Guzzi — his first mount — on December 8,
2001, at Hipodromo de Monterrico in Peru. His first U.S. win came aboard John
Bobby at River Downs on July 10, 2002 — his first U.S. mount.

“I just think I am going to have a big meet every meet and always try to do
my best,” Bejarano said earlier this week. “My agent (Joe Ferrer) and I work
hard every day and the trainers give me the opportunities. I thank God that I
have been blessed.”

Bejarano, who traveled to Peru to vacation with family following Saturday’s
program, ranks second nationally as his mounts have earned more than $16 million
in 2008 — a career-high.

Doug O’Neill, meanwhile, broke the fall meet record of 24 wins he set in 2006 by
saddling 30 winners at the meeting, including Pinkarella (Malibu Moon), Storm
Brave (Stormy Atlantic) and Nordic Storm (General Meeting) on Sunday as he
finished with a hat trick.