Santa Anita news: Bejarano going, Rispoli likely staying in California

Rafael Bejarano, a long-time successful fixture on the Southern California circuit, will make a fresh start come April, his agent, Tora Yamaguchi, said Friday morning.

“He’s enjoyed his time here, but as of late, opportunities here have been scarce,” Yamaguchi said. “He’ll remain here through the Santa Anita Derby (on April 4), then will consider going to Keeneland after that to ride there and later at Churchill Downs.”

A 37-year-old native of Peru, through 33 days of Santa Anita’s Winter Meet, Bejarano had four wins, 12 seconds and 12 thirds from 66 mounts.

RISPOLI LIKELY TO REMAIN AT SANTA ANITA

Umberto Rispoli, meanwhile, was still undecided Friday morning as to his new agent and where he would continue to ride in the future.

The 31-year-old two-time champion in his native of Italy was left agent-less when it was announced last Saturday that his agent, Ron Anderson, will now represent Hall of Fame member John Velazquez in addition to future Hall of Famer Joel Rosario, leaving Rispoli open.

“I think I’m going to stay (here),” said Rispoli, who has his wife, Kimberley, and their son, Hayden, 2 ½, in California. “But I still have no plan, no agent. I’m going to Italy Sunday to pick up my visa, and when I return, I’ll go forward. I’ve had no inquiries from other agents.”

FINISH LINES: Hard Not to Love, the one-eyed wonder filly, worked five furlongs in 1:01.40 this morning under Mike Smith for the Grade I Beholder Mile on March 14.

...Also working was Triple Crown hopeful American Theorem,scheduled to make his three-year-old debut in the Rebel Stakes at Oaklawn Park March 14 for trainer George Papaprodromou. Regular rider Tiago Pereira was aboard.

...Venetian Harbor, prepping for the Santa Anita Oaks on April 4, went five furlongs in 1:00.40 for leading trainer Richard Baltas.

...Streaking stakes winner Fashionably Fast, winner of last Sunday’s Tiznow Stakes, went back to the track Friday,  but trainer Dean Pederson had no word on his next race. “We’re in no hurry to do anything special,”Pederson said of the son of Lucky Pulpit, whose Tiznow victory was his sixth in a row