You gotta love Raphael Bejarano. He’s one of the more animated riders in thoroughbred horse racing today.
Yesterday at Hollywood Park he rode five winners, two place finishes, and two third showings on the 10 race card. Over the years fans have watched this guy transform himself into one of the top 5 jockeys in America.
He’s confident and cocky when he wins and you can ‘feel his competive spirit’ when he’s riding. When he reached his fifth win yesterday it would have been easy to get wrapped up in the hype as track announcer Vic Stauffer pumped up the crowd by alerting fans that Bejarano needed one more win to tie Bill Shoemaker, Lafitte Pincay, and Kent Desormeaux for the most wins in one day at Hollywood Park.
In the eight race, Bejarano was off the board on If It Stays Fair at 9-1. In the ninth race aboard the favorite Triumphant Flight he chased Garrettt Gomez and Compari around the track to finish second. Finally, in the 10th race, again aboard favorite Raise the River, he finished second and was denied the record tying victory when Gomez beat him with 12-1 shot Grazen.
Congratulations to Raphael Bejarano for his performance. And thanks to Garrett Gomez who provided us with a nice winner in the last.