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  • Tapit sire of Quail Hollow 1st Alw (May 24, 8th CT). Owner, Stevark Stable, Inc.; Breeder, Dr. O. M. Patrick...
  • First Samurai sire of Nakano 1st Alw (May 24, 8th CRC). Owner, Thoroughbred Futures Racing; Breeder, Hubert Vester...
  • Tribal Rule sire of Italian Rules 1st Alw (May 24, 7th BHP). Owner, Barber, Gary and Cecil; Breeder, Nick Cafarchia...
  • Latent Heat sire of Heated Troubles 1st Mdn (May 24, 5th RD). Owner, Ashleigh Stud; Breeder, Ashleigh Stud, Frank Ramos & JackieRamos...
  • Arch sire of Wiki 1st Alw (May 24, 2nd PID). Owner, Midwest Thoroughbreds, Inc.; Breeder, Stuart S. Janney, III LLC....
  • Successful Appeal sire of Warning Song 1st Alw (May 24, 6th PRM). Owner, Maggi Moss; Breeder, Bloodstock Holdings LLC...
  • Canadian Frontier sire of Golden Frontier 1st Alw (May 24, 3rd CD). Owner, George Fister; Breeder, Brereton C. Jones...
  • Flower Alley sire of Bouquet Booth 1st Alw (May 24, 7th CD). Owner, Right Time Racing LLC; Breeder, Brookdale & Dr. Ted Folkerth...
  • Benchmark sire of Planet Sunshine 1st Alw (May 24, 5th GG). Owner, Thomas A. Shapiro; Breeder, Thomas Shapiro...
  • Holy Bull sire of Catalan 1st Alw (May 24, 8th BEL). Owner, Elizabeth Loftus; Breeder, B. P. Walden & Dr. S. Marcum...
  • B L's Appeal sire of B L's Tsumani 1st Alw (May 24, 7th PRM). Owner, Gary Spragg; Breeder, Frank Bertolino...
  • Smoke Glacken sire of Walker Bay 1st Alw (May 24, 8th CD). Owner, Hammersmith, Dennis L. and Paden Racing, Inc.; Breeder, Brian O'Rourke & Derry Meeting Farm...
  • Chapel Royal sire of Mr Rodriguez 1st Mdn (May 24, 2nd BEL). Owner, Imperio, Michael and Loftus, Elizabeth; Breeder, Jill Imperio & Daniella Corian...
  • Petionville sire of Wups 1st Thoroughbred Maiden Derby (May 23, 9th BOI). Owner, Paul Treasure; Breeder, Michael Iavarone...
  • Wando sire of Deb's Girly Girl 1st Alw (May 24, 6th RD). Owner, Deborah F. Metz; Breeder, Deborah F. Metz...
  • Medaglia d'Oro sire of Dealer 1st Alw (May 23, 8th CT). Owner, Coleswood Farm, Inc.; Breeder, Family Broodmare, LLC...

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Jockey Bejarano looking forward to big weekend

Posted: Wednesday, April 30, 2008 2:56 PM

RAFAEL BEJARANO

NTRA photo

by Frank Angst

While every rider looks forward to competing in races like the Kentucky Oaks (G1) and Kentucky Derby (G1), this year’s races are extra special to rider Rafael Bejarano.

On March 13, Bejarano cracked his fifth and sixth vertebrae when he was thrown from his mount, Parisian Art, who suffered an apparent heart attack inside the eighth pole and died. At the time, Bejarano was fitted in a brace and his doctor estimated Bejarano would miss at least one month of riding.

At the time, the Kentucky Derby was the last thing on the 25-year-old rider’s mind.

“I was thinking about recovering,” Bejarano said.

Bejarano was able to return to riding in just three weeks and he secured the Santa Anita riding title with 67 victories.

“That meant a lot to me,” Bejarano said of earning the riding title despite the injury. “It was great that when I came back, I still had top horses.”

On Friday, Bejarano has the mount on Grade 1 winner Country Star in the Kentucky Oaks and Grade 2 winner Anak Nakal in the Derby. He is looking forward to both races.

Bejarano will be competing in the Derby for the fourth straight year. He won spring meet riding titles at Churchill in 2004 and ’05 and a fall meet title in ’05. While he will ride at Churchill this week, Bejarano plans to continue to compete primarily in Southern California for the rest of the year.

Frank Angst is senior writer of Thoroughbred Times

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