Bejarano will ride Oaklawn meet for the first time

Jockey Rafael Bejarano will be wintering at the Oaklawn Park meet, which opens Dec. 9, agent Julio Espinoza said on Friday. The rider is currently based in Kentucky.

Bejarano will be riding at Oaklawn on a regular basis for the first time in his career. He has traveled to the meet for stakes and has won two runnings of the Arkansas Derby, the Apple Blossom with Plum Pretty, and the Fantasy with Blind Luck.

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Bejarano’s winners in the Arkansas Derby were with Papa Clem in 2009 and Overanalyze in 2013. He also won the track's Rebel with Secret Circle.

“It’s an opportunity to look for a Derby horse or a Triple Crown horse," Espinoza said. "We’ll be there for sure.”

Entries for the first day of racing are being taken Dec. 3.

Espinoza said one appeal of the Oaklawn meet is the break around Christmas, which will allow Bejarano to spend some time with family.

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