Bejarano to return Tuesday for Churchill Downs opener

LOUISVILLE, Ky. – Jockey Rafael Bejarano will miss the last three days of the Runhappy meet at Ellis Park in western Kentucky while still recovering from Aug. 12 surgery to have a small, benign growth removed from his pancreas. Bejarano will be ready for opening day at Churchill Downs, said his agent, Julio Espinoza.

“We just didn’t want to push it,” said Espinoza, who had hoped to have Bejarano back by Friday. “He’s been running and exercising, feeling really good.”

Bejarano, whose last day at Ellis was Aug. 9, had 18 winners at the meet and is now tied with another former longtime Southern California regular, Joe Talamo, atop the local standings. Talamo has five mounts both Friday and Saturday and is four wins ahead of James Graham. The meet runs through Sunday.

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◗ A $47,300 turf allowance (race 7) and three maiden specials (races 3, 5, 6) are among the Friday offerings at Ellis, where the final three-day weekend of the meet starts with an eight-race card.

Saturday will bring more of the same, with two turf allowances and three maiden specials anchoring a nine-race card. First post daily is 12:50 p.m. Central.

◗ Navratilova, a 2-year-old filly out of Grade 1 winner Centre Court, earned a 53 Beyer Speed Figure in a flashy debut last Friday at Ellis when rallying to win the 5 1/2-furlong turf race by 2 1/4 lengths. Rusty Arnold trains the Medaglia d’Oro filly for owner-breeder G. Watts Humphrey Jr.

◗ After Derby week, action on the Kentucky circuit moves Sept. 7 to Kentucky Downs for the six-day Runhappy meet through Sept. 16. Churchill then resumes its September meet with nine programs (Sept. 17-27).