Stevens Has 5 Winners, Including Feature

Bred to improve on the turf, Lucky’s First One did exactly that, rallying from off the pace to win the $82,125 La Puente Stakes Wednesday at Santa Anita and giving jockey Gary Stevens the fourth of five winners.

A son of Something Lucky, out of the mare Prone Position, the 5-2 second choice for the day defeated Dome Mountain by 1 1/4 lengths in 1:50 2/5 for the 1 1/8 miles. Siebe, the 7-10 favorite, was third, a neck behind Dome Mountain.

After chasing El Atroz, Personal Hope, Union City and Diazo on the main track, Lucky’s First One seemed to appreciate the softer company Wednesday and the new surface.

“He really took to the grass,” said Stevens. “With his breeding, he figured to. We were pretty confident. I really liked his last race better than what showed in the (Daily Racing) Form.

“He showed a lot of determination against a pretty good group of young horses. He was real relaxed and there was a good, honest pace up front. I pushed the button at the eighth pole and he went.”

Horse Racing Notes

Gary Stevens also won the third with Fast Reward, the fifth with Tapstress, the sixth with Harris County and the finale, the $56,075 Desert Law Handicap, with Shes A Sure Bet. With 84 victories, Stevens leads the jockey standings by 17 with four days remaining. . . . Dinand, the 5-2 second choice on the morning line for the La Puente, was scratched by trainer Charlie Whittingham. The Ferdinand colt worked five furlongs in 59 3/5 Wednesday morning. “The horse is fine,” said Whittingham. “I just didn’t like the turf course. I walked it and it was a little rough (Tuesday). And it’s awfully long now. His sire wasn’t a great turf horse and I just didn’t want to take a chance with him. But he’s fine. We’ll find another spot for him soon.”