Bejarano sweeps Southern California riding titles

Bejarano has guided numerous runners into the winner's circle in 2008 (Benoit Photo)

Jockey Rafael Bejarano, who did not ride Sunday's closing-day program at

Hollywood Park, completed a sweep of the five major Southern California meetings

by riding 52 winners at the Inglewood track's 40-day fall meet.

Bejarano, a 26-year-old native of Arequipa, Peru., moved his tack west during

the 2007 fall meet and became just the third jockey to sweep the Santa Anita

winter/spring meet, the Hollywood Park spring/summer meet, Del Mar, Oak Tree and

the Hollywood Park fall meet. Hall of Fame jockey Chris McCarron was the first

to do so in 1983 and Patrick Valenzuela matched the feat in 2003.

Bejarano broke his maiden on La Guzzi -- his first mount -- on December 8,

2001, at Hipodromo de Monterrico in Peru. His first U.S. win came aboard John

Bobby at River Downs on July 10, 2002 -- his first U.S. mount.

"I just think I am going to have a big meet every meet and always try to do

my best," Bejarano said earlier this week. "My agent (Joe Ferrer) and I work

hard every day and the trainers give me the opportunities. I thank God that I

have been blessed."

Bejarano, who traveled to Peru to vacation with family following Saturday's

program, ranks second nationally as his mounts have earned more than $16 million

in 2008 -- a career-high.

Doug O'Neill, meanwhile, broke the fall meet record of 24 wins he set in 2006 by

saddling 30 winners at the meeting, including Pinkarella (Malibu Moon), Storm

Brave (Stormy Atlantic) and Nordic Storm (General Meeting) on Sunday as he

finished with a hat trick.