Stevens’ Timing Perfect as Water Crystals Wins

Timing his stretch drive to perfection, Gary Stevens scored his first stakes win since his spill last fall when he guided Water Crystals to a neck victory over favored Baroness Direct in Wednesday’s $60,000-added Monrovia Handicap in front of a Santa Anita crowd of 21,605.

Stevens began riding again in late December after being sidelined for about three months.

Water Crystals, purchased for $45,000 at the Del Mar yearling sale, covered the 6 1/2 furlongs on grass in 1:15 3/5 and paid $16.20, $5.60 and $4.00. The victory was worth $40,100 to owner Bruce Steinberg of La Jolla.

Baroness Direct, with Chris McCarron aboard, led for most of the way but was caught at the eighth pole.