__________

Rafael Bejarano Shines With “Blind Luck” At Kentucky Oaks

By Ranjan Bhaduri
Sábado, 01 de Mayo de 2010 07:32:31 a.m. by GD

Louisville, May 1, (THAINDIAN NEWS) Rafael Bejarano was banking upon Blind Luck which did gave him his winning smile at the Kentucky Oaks 136 run on Friday. Reportedly, Blind Luck galloped along a long stretch of 11/16 miles in a span of 1:50:70 which wasn’t as easy as it sounds owing to the fact that Evening Jewel was pacing up real good in the first phase of the race. In fact the way Evening Jewel came up in the early half of the race it was danger alarm to all other horses at the Kentucky Oaks.

Blind Luck, ridden by Rafael Bejarano made its way from the very back to the finish. Line which is inarguably one of the very best photo finish derby sessions witnessed in years and the closet encounter recorded at the Kentucky Oaks.

Not being able to live up to its reputation, Tidal Pool finished third in the race followed by the Beautician. When the final wire was crossed, the crowd witnessed the giant screen at the grounds depicted Blind Luck to be just a step ahead of Evening Jewel which initiated the cheering of the crowd. Reportedly, Blind Luck witnessed a bet down at 6-5 favorite for the crowds which did made it a vital win for her at the Kentucky Oaks which have witnessed the second bitter defeat coming from Rachel Alexandra. As a matter of fact, it was one of the fastest career win for Blind Luck. Jerry Hollendorfer, who happens to be the trainer of the horse, told the media that it gives him extreme pleasure to witness the winning moment of Blind Luck which fills him with extreme joy and makes him feel proud.

__________

Bejarano's faith in Soldier's Dancer pays off in Sunshine Millions Turf race

By Art Wilson, Staff Writer
Updated: 01/24/2009 10:58:28 PM PST

ARCADIA - When Soldier's Dancer, second in last year's $500,000 Sunshine Millions Turf, dropped about 20 lengths off the pace in this year's running of the race at Santa Anita on Saturday, trainer David Vivian and owner Herman Heinlein figured they'd be fortunate to finish in the money.
Jockey Rafael Bejarano, cool as could be, thought otherwise.

"I really wasn't worried because he was so far back early," Bejarano said. "It's the style of the horse. He likes to come from behind like this. I always felt comfortable because I knew I had a lot of horse."

But did he have to make it so close?
"I was saying, `I don't like to be 20 lengths back,"' Heinlein said. "We come from behind, but I don't think we've ever come from that far back. Then he closed it to nine lengths, and then I thought we had a chance."

Soldier's Dancer, the 7-5 favorite, passed Presious Passion in the final sixteenth of a mile to win the 1 1/8-mile race over a yielding turf course by a half-length and gave Vivian and Heinlein the biggest victories of their racing careers.


__________

"The 2008 racing season may be remembered as the year a young foreign-born jockey burst from the pack to become the rising star of the business, heir to a throne held by a long line of champions."

- Ray Kerrison on Bejarano -
NEW YORK POST


__________

Bejarano Jockey of the Week

Jan 15th, 09

Buoyed by a win aboard King of the Green, Rafael Bejarano led all North American jockeys by purse earnings for the week ended January 13.

Bejarano won seven races in 26 starts and amassed $231,844 in earnings for the week. His most lucrative win came in a 1-1/8th-mile maiden special weight race on turf on January 11 as King of the Green beat Prize Play by a nose.

A native of Arequipa, Peru, Bejarano is a finalist for the Eclipse Award as outstanding jockey. Bejarano finished second among all riders in 2008 with $16,439,729 in North American purse earnings.

The jockey leanred his craft in Peru, where he spent 1-1/2 years at the nation's riding school before going out on his own. He started his professional career in 1999, when he won the apprentice jockey title at Hippodromo de Monterrico.

Bejarano quickly made an impact after moving to the United States in May 2002.

In 2004, he set a Turfway Park meet record for wins with 150 en route to leading all North American jockeys with 455 victories for the year. His success continued in 2005 with jockey titles at the Keeneland Race Course fall meet and the Churchill Downs spring and fall meets. Bejarano, who resides in Louisville, moved his tack to Southern California in 2007 to ride first call for Racing Hall of Fame trainer Bobby Frankel.

Thoroughbred Times TODAY


__________


Bejarano completes Southern California sweep

Rafael Bejarano officially completed a sweep of the riding titles for the five major Southern California meetings with 52 winners at Hollywood Park’s 40-day autumn meet, which concluded Sunday.

Bejarano did not ride on closing day but already had sealed the title.

Bejarano’s impressive run began in December 2007, when Santa Anita Park’s winter-spring meet began. The 26-year-old Peruvian was the leading rider at that meet, and also led all riders by wins at Hollywood’s spring-summer meet, the Del Mar meeting, and the Oak Tree meet at Santa Anita.

He became just the third jockey to sweep the five meetings, joining racing Hall of Fame jockey Chris McCarron (1983) and Patrick Valenzuela (2003).

“I just think I am going to have a big meet every meet and always try to do my best,” Bejarano said this week.

Doug O’Neill broke his own autumn meet record of 24 wins, which he set in 2006, by saddling 30 winners, including three winners on Sunday. The title was the seventh for O’Neill at Hollywood Park and his fourth during the autumn meet. He also won autumn titles in 2002 and ‘04.
O’Neill’s spring-summer titles at Hollywood came in 2003, ’05, and ‘07.

“This one is something special,” O’Neill said. “We started the meet kind of slow. And a few weeks ago, we still weren’t surging. But the last few weeks we have been on a good run. We’ve got a great team here.”

“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 Wins Arkansas Derby

Southern California shipper Papa Clem outfought even-money choice Old Fashioned in a thrilling stretch duel at Oaklawn Park to win the $1 million Arkansas Derby (gr. II) (VIDEO) by a half-length April 11.

Rafael Bejarano was able to get the speedy Papa Clem to relax mid-pack for much of the 1 1/8-mile journey, rallying four paths wide off the final turn to challenge Old Fashioned in the lane. Papa Clem had the lead at the eighth pole but Old Fashioned wasn't done, battling back along the inside for Terry Thompson and refusing to give way until the final strides. The final time was 1:49.01 on a fast track.

Papa Clem's second win in six starts was worth $600,000 and assured the bay colt of a spot in the Kentucky Derby Presented by Yum! Brands (gr. I) on May 2 at Churchill Downs.

It was the first graded win for the Bo Hirsch homebred Papa Clem. Hirsch named the colt for his father, Clement L. Hirsch. The son of Smart Strike is out of the Belong to Me mare Miss Houdini, another Bo Hirsch homebred who won the 2002 Del Mar Debutante (gr. I) in 2002.