Stevens Has 4 Winners at Santa Anita; Pincay in First Rides Since Wife’s Death

Western passed the leaders in the closing yards to win the $45,000 feature race Friday at Santa Anita, giving 21-year-old jockey Gary Stevens his fourth victory of the day. Stevens also rode winners in the first, second and fourth races.

The day also marked the return of Laffit Pincay Jr. after his wife, Linda, died of a self-inflicted gunshot wound two weeks ago.

A crowd of 19,981 greeted Pincay warmly when he came onto the track to ride in five of the day’s races. He finished second aboard Mt. A Fortune in the fourth race, his best showing of the day.

In the feature race, Western finished 1 lengths in front of Double Line, with Luis Ortega aboard. Fatih, ridden by Dario Lozoya, finished third, another two necks back, in the 1 1/8-mile turf race for horses 4 years old and up.

Carrying 113 pounds, Western covered the 1 1/8 miles in 1.47 2-5 to defeat six rivals and take the $24,750 winner’s purse.

Sent off the 11-2 fourth choice, Western paid $13, $6.40 and $3.80. Double Line returned $7 and $4.20 while Fatih paid $4.20 to show.

Western stayed off the early pace but was never out of striking distance. Western, who hadn’t won a race since 1983, rallied strongly outside the leaders coming out of the final turn and poured it on to pass Fatih and Double Line in the final drive to the finish.

Carrying 116 pounds, Double line edged Fatih to finish second.