ARCADIA, Calif. – The race was just a maiden claimer on a Wednesday, but for jockey Rafael Bejarano the victory by John Bobby at River Downs on July 10, 2002, was a publicity tool that launched his American career.

Bejarano, 20 at the time, was months removed from his native Peru, spoke virtually no English, and did not have an agent. When he moved to Hoosier Park in Indiana that summer, Bejarano needed attention – and fast.

“No one knew who I was,” he said.

HALLANDALE BEACH, Fla. – Tech Fall and Malibu Glow, who finished fourth and fifth when they met for the first time as 3-year-olds last summer in the Grade 2 Dwyer, will square off again under allowance conditions in Thursday’s 7 1/2-furlong feature at Gulfstream Park.

ARCADIA, Calif. – Turf racing at Santa Anita often is scaled back during February and March, historically the two wettest months on the California calendar.

But an unseasonably dry winter has allowed Santa Anita to use the grass course for 30 percent of its races already during the 2011-12 meet, a theme that continues Thursday. Four of the eight races are on grass, including three one-mile races in the pick six.

OZONE PARK, N.Y. – Following a solid three-length victory in an allowance race here three weeks ago, Crossbow seemed destined to make his graded stakes debut in the $200,000 Tom Fool Handicap on March 3 at Aqueduct.

But with another exciting sprinter in the barn and another allowance option available, Crossbow’s graded stakes debut will wait for another day. Instead of the Tom Fool, Crossbow makes his next start in a $66,000 third-level allowance race that serves as Aqueduct’s feature on Thursday’s nine-race program.

L G Jet improved his career record to 4 for 4 at Portland Meadows with a 3 1/2-length victory in the $20,000 Oregon Thoroughbred Breeders Derby at Portland Meadows on Monday.

ARCADIA, Calif.- Corey Nakatani has spent recent weeks getting to know City to City, the mare he rode to an upset win in Monday’s $150,00 Buena Vista Handicap at Santa Anita.

Nakatani rode City to City in workouts, working with Dan Ward, Jerry Hollendorfer’s assistant, to learn the nuances of a 5-year-old multiple stakes-winning mare who was winless in her last four starts.

“Dan said, ‘You’ll fit this filly,’” Nakatani recalled. “See if you can get her to turn off and go when you ask her.’”

HOT SPRINGS, Ark. - Trainer Bob Baffert and jockey Rafael Bejarano swept the two divisions of the Southwest Stakes at Oaklawn Park on Monday, after Secret Circle dug in for a half-length win in the second division. One race earlier, Castaway opened up the first division, rolling home by 3 3/4 lengths. Both races were Grade 3 stakes, and each was worth $250,000.

"I was just so [thankful] to Oaklawn they split the race," Baffert said. "That was nice. If I can just get them to split the Rebel, now that would be great!"

HOT SPRINGS, Ark. - Trainer Bob Baffert and jockey Rafael Bejarano swept both divisions of the Southwest Stakes at Oaklawn Park on Monday, after Secret Circle drove to about a three-quarter-length win over Scatman. One race earlier, Castaway took the first division, by 3 3/4 lengths. Both races carried Grade 3 status, and the purse for each was $250,000.

A special daily double covering the two races paid $26. The winning numbers were 11-9.

Trainer Richard Dutrow Jr. exuded tremendous confidence in Yawanna Twist entering Monday’s Grade 2, $200,000 General George Handicap at Laurel Park, and the 5-year-old New York-bred rewarded the trainer and the bettors who made him the favorite by winning the race by a half-length over stablemate This Ones for Phil.

Toby’s Corner, making his first start since winning the Grade 1 Wood Memorial last April, finished third, beaten one length. He was followed in the order of finish by Eighttofasttocatch, Fordangshore, Caixa Eletronica, and My Cuz C J.

HOT SPRINGS, Ark. - Castaway prompted the pace set by Majestic Stride, then overtook that one en route to a 3 3/4-length  win in the first division of the Grade 3, $250,000 Southwest Stakes at Oaklawn Park on Monday. Jake Mo rallied for second, while Reckless Jerry was third.

Castaway ($15.40) tracked Majestic Stride through fractions of 23.56 for the opening quarter, 48.08 for the half-mile and 1:12.60 for six furlongs. The winner covered the one-mile distance on a fast track in 1:38.