Bejarano Wins First SoCal Title!

Congratulations to jockey Rafael Bejarano who scored his first riding title in California at the conclusion of the Santa Anita meeting. Bejarano moved his tack from back East where he had been established as a top rider. Rafael beat out Garret Gomez who has been one of California's top riders and the 2007 leading rider across the nation. He ended the meet with 67 wins, 64 seconds, and 47 thirds of his 319 mounts earning over 4 million dollars in purse money.

It's been a longtime coming for rider Ismael Valenzuela who was finally voted into racing's Hall of Fame. If you recall I started campaigning for him quite a while back (check past blogs). I also said it was a shame that racing legend Jerry Lambert also has been snubbed by the Racing Hall of Fame. There's always next year. I rode Arabians for the Jerry at Los Alamitos and the man has forgotten more than I'll ever know. I learned a lot from him in those mornings at the track and I am honored to have ridden along side of him and that he thought that much of me.

Don't forget to keep your eye out for my California track picks that should be coming any day.