Bejarano to Return Wednesday at Churchill Downs

Jockey Rafael Bejarano, who took off his remaining mounts Sunday after riding two races on Churchill Downs' opening day card, was at the track Monday morning to work John Deere Breeders' Cup Turf (gr. IT) contender Rush Bay for trainer Tom Amoss.

"I feel better," Bejarano said. "I had flu a little bit, I couldn't breathe when the horses were running. My agent picked up some medicine for me and I'm okay now."

The 24-year-old Peruvian, who cracked one rib and fractured another in an Aug. 14 racing accident at Saratoga Race Course, returned to riding in September. Off his mounts for nearly a month this summer, he rode daily during Keeneland's fall meet, in spite of being unseated at the start of a race Oct. 20 and taking off part of the card to recover. He finished second, five victories, to Julien Leparoux for the Keeneland title.

Bejarano is named to ride multiple horses in the Nov. 4 Breeders' Cup World Championships, including Sun King, trained by Nick Zito, in the Classic – Powered by Dodge (gr. I).