Bejarano gets five wins, but not the biggest one

There were 10 stakes races for California-breds held at Hollywood Park on Saturday as part of the $1.3-million California Gold Rush program, and jockey Rafael Bejarano could have used an armored truck considering all the money he earned winning five races.

But the reigning Eclipse Award winner, jockey Garrett Gomez, picked up the richest victory of the day, guiding the lightly raced 3-year-old colt Compari to a 1 3/4 -length victory over Triumphant Flight and Bejarano in the $250,000 Snow Chief Stakes.

Gomez had been frustrated most of the day on losing mounts before sending the son of Redattore to the front from the outset and holding off Triumphant Flight to win in 1:48.63 over 1 1/8 miles at odds of 5-1.

“We’ve always been pretty high on this horse,” trainer Martin Jones said. “Once I saw him get to the front, I felt pretty good. The horse that was chasing him was a really good, hard-trying horse, but his best chance to win was how Garrett rode him.”

Gomez also won the day’s final race, the $60,000 NTRA Stakes, aboard Grazen at odds of 12-1, with Raise The River, ridden by Bejarano, finishing second.

Otherwise, it was a day to admire the riding skills of the 26-year-old Bejarano, who began by directing Waveline to a 1 1/4 -length win over Gambler’s Justice in the $150,000 B. Thoughtful Stakes at seven furlongs. Then came a wire-to-wire victory by Bootleg Annie over Spinning Yarns in $150,000 Fran’s Valentine Stakes at 1 1/16 miles on the turf.

He picked up his third victory in four races when Tribal Justice overtook Warren’s Pepe in deep stretch to win the $71,200 Grey Memo Stakes.

His next triumph was aboard the 3-year-old filly Pretty Unusual in the $200,000 Melair Stakes at 1 1/16 miles, rallying from seventh in a field of nine to beat Chalula One. Victory No. 5 came when he guided Liberian Freighter to a 1 1/2 -length win over Star Nicholas in the $150,000 Tiznow Stakes at 7 1/2 furlongs.

He was one short of tying the Hollywood Park record for victories in a day held by Bill Shoemaker, Laffit Pincay Jr. and Kent Desormeaux. And, of the five races he didn’t win, Bejarano finished second twice and third twice. His mounts earned $509,600 on the day.

“I feel so good,” Bejarano said. “When you have the best horse, you can do anything you want.”

Bejarano has 12 victories in the first four days of the Hollywood Park meeting.

“I think he’s riding with a huge amount of confidence,” trainer Neil Drysdale said. “It’s all falling into place.”

Another big winner Saturday was actor Jack Klugman of “The Odd Couple” and “Quincy, M.E.” fame. Even though the 86-year-old Klugman was stuck in a Southern California hospital, he was upbeat after receiving a phone call telling him that the filly he co-owns, Pretty Unusual, won the Melair Stakes.

“That made him excited,” trainer Barry Abrams said. “He jumped out of his bed.”

--

eric.sondheimer@latimes.com