Two Wins Give Title to Stevens

With victories aboard Kittys Link in the third race and Rare Catch in the sixth, jockey Gary Stevens clinched his first riding title in nearly three years Monday, the final day of the Oak Tree meeting at Santa Anita.

Stevens began Monday tied with Kent Desormeaux at 21 victories, but the latter, who won the title at Del Mar, failed to win with any of his seven mounts. David Flores finished third with 20 wins.

It was the third Oak Tree title for Stevens, but his first since 1987 and his first anywhere since he won Hollywood Park’s fall season in 1994. His 23 wins includes six stakes victories.

“It feels pretty good,” Stevens said. “I’ve been doing so much traveling the last six or seven years that I haven’t been in one place too long.

“[Agent] Ron Anderson did a super job and what makes it most gratifying is that so many people were involved. I rode for so many different owners.”

In the day’s feature, the $78,000 Straight Deal Handicap, favored Toda Una Dama won for the fourth time in seven starts in the United States and helped Ron McAnally reach a milestone. It was the 200th win at Oak Tree for the Hall of Fame trainer and left him one behind Charlie Whittingham on the all-time Oak Tree list.

Ridden by Alex Solis, the 4-year-old Cipayo filly broke on top of her four rivals, was content to sit second when Blushing Heiress decided she had to have the lead, then took charge entering the stretch and drew away to win in 1:35 2/5 for the mile. She paid $3.80 as the 9-10 choice.

Blushing Heiress was easily second, 5 1/2 lengths clear of Chile Chatte, then came Notagoldbrick and British Bauble. Miss Lady Bug was scratched from the Straight Deal.

Horse Racing Notes

Total attendance and daily average attendance at Oak Tree were down 4.4% from last year, but total handle and the daily average handle showed a 1.6% increase. . . . Jockey Martin Pedroza will begin a five-day suspension Friday after being cited for failure to maintain a straight course through the stretch while riding Brave Son in Sunday’s eighth race. Pedroza’s mount was disqualified from fourth and placed seventh for interfering with Crimson Look. . . . For the record: Track Gal, one of the entrants in the Breeders’ Cup Sprint, has beaten males in a graded stakes. She won the 1995 Ancient Title at Santa Anita.