Bejarano resting at home after surgery to remove growth from pancreas

Rafael Bejarano, the leading rider at the Runhappy meet at Ellis Park in western Kentucky, will be sidelined until Aug. 28 after undergoing surgery in a Louisville, Ky., hospital last week to have a small non-malignant growth removed from his pancreas.

Bejarano, 38, has been resting comfortably in his Louisville home, said his agent, Julio Espinoza. He has not ridden since Aug. 9.

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A native of Peru, Bejarano returned this spring to Kentucky from Southern California, where he was among the top jockeys for years. His formative years in America were spent on the Kentucky circuit, where he also was among the perennial leaders until leaving for California in fall 2007. He has ridden 4,090 winners, and his mounts have earned more than $206 million.

With just six cards remaining at the 25-day meet at Ellis, Bejarano holds an 18-16 lead in the rider standings over Joe Talamo, another former longtime Southern California regular. Bejarano is expected back for the last three days of the meet (Aug. 28-30).