Jockey Bejarano Wins Six Races at Santa Anita

The only thing that would have made jockey Rafael Bejarano’s trip to California better would have been a win in the Santa Anita Derby.

One of the country’s top riders, Bejarano had to settle for second on Point Determined behind heavily favored Brother Derek in the day’s main event, but he won just about everything else Saturday.

The Peruvian-born Bejarano, who will turn 24 in June, won with six of his 10 mounts, including a victory in the $150,000 Arcadia Handicap on 6-1 shot Silent Name.

Bejarano, who swept the pick four, became the eighth different jockey to win six races in a single day at Arcadia. Corey Nakatani was the last to accomplish the feat on April 23, 2000.

“I want to thank all the trainers for giving me this opportunity,” said Bejarano, who won three times for Bob Baffert and one each for Richard Mandella, Mandella’s son Gary and Bobby Frankel. “I’m very happy.”

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-- Bob Mieszerski