Jockey Rafael Bejarano Rides 4,000th Winner

Southern California-based jockey Rafael Bejarano rode his 4,000th winner June 15 when he led almost every step of Santa Anita Park's third race aboard Jeffrey Lambert and Paradise Farms Corp.'s Portal Creek and drew off in the 6 1/2-furlong sprint.

The 3-year-old Shanghai Bobby filly, trained by Robert Hess Jr., dueled on the lead, was second by a length at the half-mile point, then pulled ahead by 3 3/4 lengths under Bejarano. The time was 1:18.13 over a fast track.

Bejarano also won the second race aboard Kretz Racing and trainer George Papaprodromou's Dr. Troutman.

"First of all I would like to thank all the trainers and the owners for always trusting me and giving me support all these years here at Santa Anita and in California," Bejarano said. "Also want to thank my agent (Tora Yamaguchi) and my team that I've had all these years. I'm really happy right now, I've rode 4,000 winners, and I can't express myself.

"This track has always been so special for me. My first day I started here I won six races in one day (April 8, 2006) and it was very special. All these years have gone by and I've been having a lot of hard times and accidents but I really enjoy riding, especially here at Santa Anita. It's such a beautiful place, I'll always enjoy it."

Bejarano, 37, is a native of Peru and began riding in the United States in 2002. He has won five Breeders' Cup races—twice with Goldencents  in the Breeders' Cup Dirt Mile (G1), the Emirates Airline Breeders' Cup Distaff (G1) with Ginger Punch, the Emirates Airline Breeders' Cup Filly & Mare Turf (G1T) with Intercontinental, and the the Sentient Jet Breeders' Cup Juvenile Sprint with Secret Circle .

"I love horse racing. It's part of my home and part of my life," Bejarano said. "We spend a lot of time here from the early morning to sometimes evening. All the riders, the groomers, the trainers, the owners, they spend so much time working so hard, putting all they have, all the love they have. It's very good for us everybody enjoys everything every day we love horse racing."