Rosario trying to play spoiler's role

Rafael Bejarano has won a record-tying six consecutive SoCal riding titles, but he's got his hands full if he wants the record to himself. He trailed the streaking Joel Rosario, 67-59, heading into today's 11-race card with just nine racing days remaining.

Rosario, who won five races Saturday to spurt clear in the standings, is aiming for his first riding title in the U.S. A 24-year-old native of the Dominican Republic, Rosario finished second behind Bejarano, 56-45, at last year's Hollywood Park spring-summer meet.

Through the first three races today, Bejarano has pulled within six of Rosario, 67-61, by winning twice -- with Carman (7-2) in the second race and Hurricane Ike (5-1) in the third.

"I think it's 50-50," said Vic Stauffer, Rosario's agent and Hollywood Park's track announcer. "The other guy (Bejarano) can win races in bunches."

Stauffer, who took over Rosario's book during the Hollywood Park autumn meet, believes there is a big difference between winning the jockey title and finishing second or third behind Bejarano and Garrett Gomez.

"Some people say winning titles isn't important, but it would mean the world to us," he said. "When you call a trainer in the East and tell him you're third in the standings behind Bejarano and Gomez, that's all well and good. But when you tell him you're the leading rider at Hollywood Park, that makes all the difference in the world.

"We're going to leave no stone unturned. You don't know when you'll get another chance like this."