Rafael Bejarano

HOT SPRINGS, Arkansas--Counting the well-mannered colt's strides as she takes him to the seven-eighths pole on a brisk Wednesday morning breeze this week at Oaklawn Park, Laura Moquett knows precisely where she wants to be. She understands how much throttle to let out and what visual markers are presenting themselves. Clocking is useful, but it is more about listening intently as she moves forward. An accomplished horseman like Moquett relishes the routine; everyone does, but as an assistant trainer she is never shy when it comes to a good equine...

Time for Truth (Omaha Beach) likely earned himself a spot in the Mar. 30 GI Arkansas Derby with his allowance victory at Oaklawn Park Saturday. Owned by Harry Rosenblum and Cheyenne Stables and trained by Ron Moquett, the colt had to be scratched from last week's GII Rebel S. after suffering a minor shin injury the night before the race. Making his two-turn debut in Saturday's 1 1/16-mile allowance, Time for Truth showed a new dimension by coming from off the pace to post a 1 1/2-length victory under regular...

Rafael Bejarano's trip from Kentucky to New York to ride just one mount Saturday in the GI Alabama S. resulted in disqualification from fifth to sixth and a subsequent three-day suspension issued Sunday by the Saratoga Race Course stewards for "careless riding." The incident involved Bejarano and the 4-1 Taxed (Collected) swerving inward and cutting off the 5-1 Gambling Girl (Dialed In) and Irad Ortiz, Jr. about 70 yards into the 10-furlong stakes. The Equibase chart stated Bejarano's filly "stumbled at the start recovering inwards a step, raced to the...

Rafael Bejarano became just the 15th jockey to record as many at 500 victories at historic Churchill Downs when the debuting juvenile filly Just Cindy (Justify) validated 6-5 favoritism for trainer Eddie Kenneally Friday afternoon. A native of Peru who will celebrate his 40th birthday June 23, Bejarano began riding at the Louisville oval in 2003 and earned three riding titles (Spring, 2004-5, Fall 2005) before shifting his tack to California in 2008. Arguably Bejarano's finest hour in the saddle came beneath the Twin Spires in 2010, when he shoved...

Apr. 26 - May 2    Every week, the TDN publishes a roundup of key official rulings from the primary tracks within the four major racing jurisdictions of California, New York, Florida and Kentucky.     Here's a primer on how each of these jurisdictions adjudicates different offenses, what they make public (or not) and where.   CALIFORNIA Track: Santa Anita Date: 05/01/2022 Licensee: Victor Espinoza, jockey Penalty: $1,500 fine Violation: Excessive use of the whip Explainer: Jockey Victor Espinoza is fined $1,500 for violation of California Horse Racing Board rule...

Funeral services for longtime jockey agent Steven Elzey will be held at 11 a.m. Wednesday at Zwick & Jahn Funeral Home in Decatur. Burial will follow at Decatur Cemetery. Family and friends will be received Tuesday from 2 to 8 p.m. at the funeral home and one hour prior to the service Wednesday. Elzey, 64, passed away last Wednesday at his home in Tampa, Florida. A former jockey, Elzey spent over 30 years as a jockey agent, working for such riders as Rafael Bejarano, Miguel Mena, Willie Martinez, Rosemary Homeister,...