Bejarano picks up mount on Happy Jack for Kentucky Derby

Rafael Bejarano will ride Happy Jack in the Kentucky Derby on May 7 at Churchill Downs, trainer Doug O'Neill said Tuesday, reuniting a trainer and jockey team that had terrific success in Southern California before Bejarano returned to the Kentucky circuit.

Happy Jack, a Calumet Farm homebred colt by Oxbow, secured enough points to run in the Derby by finishing a distant third in his most recent start, the Santa Anita Derby, behind Taiba and Messier. He also finished third in his prior start, the San Felipe Stakes.

As of Tuesday, Happy Jack held the 20th spot on the points list for the Derby. Several horses above him are in question for the race, most notably Early Voting and Morello. Pioneer of Medina and In Due Time, in that order, are next on the points list.

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Bejarano, 39, has won more than 4,200 races during his career. His biggest wins, both in concert with O'Neill, were consecutive runnings of the Breeders' Cup Dirt Mile with Goldencents in 2013-2014. That was during a stretch when Bejarano was consistently at or near the top of the jockey standings in Southern California, where he won riding titles at Santa Anita, Del Mar, and Hollywood Park.

Bejarano, a native of Peru, began riding in North America on the Kentucky circuit, and returned there two years ago when his business began to lag in Southern California.