SANTA ANITA : Stevens Gets Grip on Racing Life

Several years ago, Gary Stevens said he would quit riding when he turned 30.

Santa Anita’s leading jockey will celebrate that birthday on March 6, but any party that day won’t be a retirement bash.

Stevens is enjoying himself too much to stop now, and he is the regular rider of two promising 3-year-olds: Personal Hope and Likeable Style.

“I think I let everybody know last year I had changed my mind (about retirement at 30),” Stevens said. “I’m riding some good horses, and I’m still having fun. When I’m not having fun anymore, I’ll call it quits.”

With 39 victories, Stevens is 10 ahead of Laffit Pincay. Stevens also leads in stakes victories with five.

Stevens, however, does not hide his displeasure about California’s racing calendar.

“You have to be a freak of nature to stay at 100% mentally and physically all year round, and that goes for everybody connected with the sport,” he said.

Stevens says he is better equipped these days to handle the inevitable slumps.

“One of the hardest things to accept is that you are going to go through bad times, but that you’re going to come out of it and things are going to be all right. I’m enjoying myself a lot more since I’ve learned how to deal with that. I’ve figured out this game is just as much mental as it it physical.”

Still, Stevens, married and a father of four, does not see himself riding into his 40s.

“I wouldn’t expect to be riding when I’m 35,” he said. “There are other goals I’ve set for myself that aren’t so much professional as (they are) family goals. I know where I’d like to be in five-six years.

“Everything I’ve done over the last seven-eight years has been with my future and my family’s future in mind.”

One of the quality horses Stevens has been riding will get her sternest test in her third start in Saturday’s $150,000 Las Virgenes Stakes.

Likeable Style, who broke her maiden in a six-furlong sprint on opening day, then came back to win the restricted Santa Ysabel Stakes, will meet Creaking Board and Incindress in the Las Virgenes, the final prep for the Santa Anita Oaks.

“If she keeps doing what she’s doing right now and runs to our expectations, I think she could be anything,” Stevens said of the 3-year-old Nijinsky II filly. “It’s still very early in her career and she hasn’t run against top-notch fillies, and she would have excuses in terms of seasoning if she got beat Saturday, but I don’t expect her to get beat. I have a lot of confidence in her.”

Four days later, Personal Hope is expected to make his stakes debut in the Bradbury, one of the early steps on the road to the Santa Anita Derby. A son of Storm Bird trained by Mark Hennig, Personal Hope is unbeaten in two starts since coming to California.

“I definitely think he’s a Derby type colt,” Stevens said. “He’s got the breeding and he’s a true athlete the way he’s put together and the way he handles himself in a race. He’s got good speed and great acceleration when you need it.”

Best Pal was assigned top weight of 124 pounds for the $250,000 San Antonio Handicap on Sunday, but trainer Gary Jones said the 5-year-old will skip the race and make his next start in the Santa Anita Handicap on March 6.

In his absence, it looks as if the 1 1/8-mile race will have six starters, topped by Jovial and Sir Beaufort.

Successful in two starts at the meeting after being winless since 1990, Jovial will carry 117 pounds on Sunday, three less than Sir Beaufort, who has also won two in a row.

Other possible starters include Tel Quel, Marquetry, Reign Road and Bucking Bird.

River Special, who is scheduled to make his 1993 debut in the San Rafael Stakes on Feb. 27, worked six furlongs in 1:12 4/5 Wednesday morning under Kent Desormeaux.

Trainer Bob Hess was happy with the work by the colt, whom many consider the early favorite for the Kentucky Derby. “I thought it was a superb work,” he said. “I especially liked the fact that he finished really well. He went the last eighth in 11 and change.”

Horse Racing Notes

Gilded Time, the Eclipse Award winner as the nation’s top 2-year-old, worked a half-mile on the turf in 50 seconds Wednesday morning. . . . Creaking Board, who has not run since her easy victory in the Hollywood Starlet, worked five furlongs in 1:00 3/5. . . . Pat Valenzuela won three times Wednesday, including an impressive victory on favored Corby in the feature, a $39,000 allowance at one mile. . . . Battle Quest, who won her American debut by five lengths on Jan. 24, is the 8-5 favorite in the $50,000 Estrapade Handicap today. Also set to go in the 1 1/4-mile turf race are Potrichal, My Scotia Belle, Now Showing, Saganeca, Elegance and Masake.