Bejarano Returns to Action Saturday

By Claire E. Novak
Rafael Bejarano, who was sidelined with a fractured ankle less than one week into the Saratoga meet, will return to racing this weekend. The 24-year-old jockey received clearance to begin galloping horses in Kentucky on Tuesday and worked several Wednesday morning.

According to Bejarano, his right ankle (injured in a starting gate accident on Aug. 1) is back to normal. "It's much better," Bejarano said on Wednesday. "I'm very happy and excited to be riding again. I feel great."

Bejarano gets the mount on Dallas Stewart-trained Storm Surge in the King's Bishop (gr. I) on Saturday, and will continue riding at the Spa until the meet ends.

"We'll finish Saratoga, then spend the rest of September at Belmont," said Joe Ferrer, the jockey's agent. "After that, it's either stay at Belmont or head back to Keeneland. We'll see. In this business it's all about where your horses are."

After a four week layoff, Bejarano ranks 16th among riders at Saratoga with a win-place-show record of 3-1-6 out of 35 mounts.