Notes on a Scorecard - April 7, 1994

When Gary Stevens talks about the Santa Anita Derby, people listen. . . .

He has ridden half of the last six winners of the $500,000 race and has not finished worse than fourth in nine tries. . . .

Saturday, he will be aboard the probable favorite, Brocco, and he would not trade his seat for any other. . . .

“Brocco was by far the best 2-year-old I’ve ever ridden,” Stevens said of the romping winner of the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile last November at Santa Anita. “If he develops the way we expect him to, he will be the best horse I’ve ever ridden. He has everything a horse needs to be great.” . . .

The fact is, though, that Brocco will be attempting to break a two-race losing streak against the two colts that have beaten him, Soul Of The Matter and Valiant Nature. . . .

Factor in Wayne Lukas’ formidable Tabasco Cat and the lightly raced but dangerous Charlie Whittingham entry of Strodes Creek and Numerous, and you have the most intriguing Derby field in years. . . .

“If he can stay healthy, Brocco will be able to do anything,” Stevens said. “I’d give him a good chance in all the Triple Crown races even if he didn’t improve from his 2-year-old form.” . . .

“He has the right attitude. He loves to compete. He’s only had a few workouts in company because we’re afraid that he would try to do too much. He has the right style. He has good tactical speed and can adapt to any situation.” . . .

He also has excuses. Brocco had a troubled trip on the backside last December when he finished second to Valiant Nature in Hollywood Futurity-record time. After a long layoff, he and Valiant Nature were caught by Soul Of The Matter on a tiring, muddy track in the San Felipe Stakes on March 20. . . .

For sure, the Randy Winick-trained chestnut will be in good hands Saturday. . . .

Stevens, 31, has won more than 3,400 races, the national money title in 1990, more than $100 million in purses, and 11 riding championships on the toughest circuit in the nation. . . .

Racing is all in the family. His father Ron is a trainer, his brother Scott a jockey, and his wife Toni a former jockey and sister of rider Gary Baze. . . .

He first visited a steam room as a wrestler in the eighth grade in Idaho. “I didn’t know then that I would be making weight the rest of my life,” he said. . . .

“Gary is so successful because he’s a terrific athlete and horseman,” agent Ron Anderson said. “He can come back after a race and tell you more about his horse than any other jockey.” . . .

Stevens says In Excess, “on his best day,” was the finest horse he has ridden. . . .

His favorite was On The Line, “a warrior who had been operated on and almost limped onto the track before the adrenaline started to flow.” . . .

The outstanding female was 1988 Kentucky Derby winner Winning Colors, “a big, robust filly who was mean and intimidated colts.” . . .

However, he is reserving judgment on Winning Colors being the best 3-year-old he has ridden. . . .

*

Thumbs up to the many thousands of Dodger Stadium fans who abstained from the wave on opening day and stayed until the final out. . . .

Doesn’t it seem a little silly to have Florida playing in Los Angeles the second week in April while the Cubs freeze in Chicago? . . .

You would think that all warm-weather and domed stadium teams would open at home. . . .

For the record: The date of Magic Johnson’s ninth annual award dinner and auction at the Beverly Hilton, benefiting the Muscular Dystrophy Assn., is April 19. . . .

Oscar De La Hoya and Jorge Paez appear headed for a midsummer fight. De La Hoya will defend his World Boxing Organization junior-lightweight title against Giorgio Campanela of Italy on May 27 in a pay-per-view show at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas, and Paez will face Mauricio Aceves on Monday night at the Forum. . . .

Caesars World has signed a contract that gives its resorts the option to stage all of Evander Holyfield’s heavyweight title defenses for the next three years. That is, if there are any more defenses after he fights Michael Moorer on April 22 at Caesars Palace in Las Vegas. . . .

Tom Hamilton, who died Monday at 88, was the first commissioner of the AAWU and then the Pacific 8 Conference. “He was highly respected by all of us in the conference,” said Bob Steiner, a Forum executive and former California sports information director. . . .

USC tackle Tony Boselli has made the Playboy magazine preseason All-American team for a record third consecutive year and is joined by UCLA wide receiver J.J. Stokes and Bruin kicker Bjorn Merten.