Bejarano, Miller honored as leading jockey, trainer at Del
Mar
At mid-season, pursuit of Del Mar’s 2012 riding championship was a three-way
battle among Rafael Bejarano, Garrett Gomez and Joe Talamo. A short time later,
with a burst of victories, Bejarano was alone and in control atop the standings
en route to his second Del Mar title and first since 2008.
The 30-year-old Peruvian finished the 37-day season with 52 victories, nine
more than runner-up Joe Talamo, who was four in front of Garrett Gomez.
Additionally, Bejarano won 13 stakes, bettering the record of 12 shared by
Laffit Pincay Jr., Chris McCarron, Gary Stevens and Corey Nakatani. Talamo,
second to Joel Rosario for most wins last summer, also had a successful season
and won his 12th stakes of the season when he rode Dry Summer to victory in the
Oak Tree Juvenile Turf Wednesday.
The race for leading trainer came down to the final day of the meeting
Wednesday. With three winners on closing day, Peter Miller captured his first
Del Mar conditioning championship, edging out Bob Baffert, 21-20. Doug O’Neill,
suspended since August 19, was third with 18 victories, three ahead of John
Sadler.
Eastern invader Dullahan flew the colors of Donegal Racing to the winner’s
circle in Del Mar’s signature event — the Grade 1, $1 million Pacific Classic
on August 26 — and earned his owners Del Mar honors as leading owner for money
won with his $600,000 prize.
In the wins-by-owner category, the Glen Hill Farm of Leonard Lavin took top
honors for the second year in a row, but this time they did it in a tie with the
Doubledown Stables of Richard Templar. Both outfits scored five victories over
the course of the 37-day race meet.
Dullahan, who shipped in from Churchill Downs for trainer Dale Romans to win
the Pacific Classic, was named Horse of the Meeting for 2012 by vote of the
media.
Ridden by Joel Rosario, the three-year-old Kentucky-bred son of Even the
Score prevailed over favored Game on Dude by a half-length in Polytrack record
time of 1:59.54 for 1 1/4 miles. Dullahan was also voted top three-year-old of
the meeting.
Amazombie, the reigning champion male sprinter and victor of the Grade 1 Bing
Crosby Handicap, was a unanimous choice as top sprinter. Unbeaten
Executiveprivilege, heroine of the Grade 1 Del Mar Debutante and Grade 3
Sorrento Stakes, was a unanimous selection in the two-year-old filly category.
Acclamation, reigning champion older male and the 2011 Horse of the Meeting,
was voted top grass horse and older horse. The other division champions were
Include Me Out (older filly/mare), Lady of Shamrock (three-year-old filly) and
Rolling Fog (two-year-old).
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