BEJARANO WINS 5 INCLUDING NORVSKY IN CAL CUP CLASSIC, UNZIP ME IN JOHN DEERE DISTAFF

Arcadia, Calif. (October 29, 2011)—Bejarano dominated Cal Cup Day with 5 big wins on the card including the Cal Cup Classic atop Norvsky and the Distaff aboard Unzip Me at Santa Anita.

Norvsky ran a patient race in the $175,000 California Cup Classic. He blew past Lucky Primo, who ran a big race, with Rafael Bejarano aboard. “I was a little worried at the stretch because I had to move early at the three-eighths pole to get him close,” said jockey Rafael Bejarano, “my horse had enough to keep going and showed me a big kick.” Trainer Don Warren was happy with the way Bejarano rode. “The horse is a deep closer but I just told Rafael not to drop 15 lengths out of it like he sometimes does. Every little bit helps in a race like this.” It was all Unzip Me in the John Deere California Cup Distaff. A potential Breeders’ Cup candidate who opted to run here, she proved her worth with an easy win in the final race of the card. “Today I followed the speed and made one big run. She has improved a lot and she’s getting better,” said jockey Rafael Bejarano. Unzip Me flew past the leaders to take an easy lead and finished strong. “She really ran her race today,” said trainer Marty Jones, “She’s just an amazing horse.” It was a wire-to-wire finish for Joel Rosario aboard Courtside in the Donald Valpredo California Cup Sprint. “He likes to run on the lead like that, and at six furlongs that is the way to do it,” said jockey Joel Rosario, “I just let him get away and hoped that he would hold on.” Starlight Magic dominated the Robert H. Walter California Cup Juvenile for Fillies. She showed great poise around the turn and kept clear with a hard fighting Willa B Awesome at her heels. “It was pretty much how we drew it up,” said trainer Mark Glatt, “she was trouble free and got a nice pace to run at.” And there was yet another winner for jockey Bejarano in the Bob Benoit California Cup Juvenile aboard Rousing Sermon. He tracked the pace until finally letting loose down the stretch passing Motown Men to take the $100,000 Juvenile. “You couldn’t ask him to run any better,” said trainer Jerry Holledorfer. Racing resumes at Santa Anita Park tomorrow at 1p.m.