To say that Joel Rosario and Rafael
Bejarano have dominated the Southern California rider standings over the last
few years would be a gross understatement.
The two riders have led the rider
standings 21 straight meetings at Hollywood Park, Santa Anita and Del Mar since
2008. Rosario has captured 11 titles, with Bejarano right behind at
10.
One thing Rosario, 27, has over his
longtime foe is a recent dominance at Betfair Hollywood Park. The
Dominican-born rider has taken 6 of the last 7 meetings in Inglewood, with his
lone blemish the 2010 Oak Tree at Hollywood Park session, which was won by
Bejarano.
When he hasn’t finished on top of
the standings, 29-year-old Bejarano, originally from Peru, has almost always
completed the exacta.