Stevens Is Back in the Saddle

Less than three weeks after he was injured in a freak accident in the Arlington Million, jockey Gary Stevens will be back today at Del Mar.

Originally scheduled to be out a month because of a collapsed lung suffered when he was dumped by Storming Home on Aug. 16, Stevens will return to ride Fly to the Wire in the $75,000 El Cajon Stakes.

Owned by Flying A Farms and Jack and Gloria Kramer and trained by Herb Bacorn, Fly to the Wire, a 3-year-old gelded son of Birdonthewire, will have six opponents in the one-mile El Cajon.

A winner only once in his first 11 starts, Fly to the Wire won easily in his first start of the meet Aug. 9, prevailing by three lengths over next-out winner American Fury.

This will be the chestnut’s third race around two turns. In his previous two, he was third and fourth against maidens for former trainer Mike Mitchell.

*

Race of the day: Three races before Stevens’ return, jockey Ryan Fogelsonger will make his California debut when he rides Happy and Hasty for trainer Grant Hofmans in the fourth, a $20,000 claimer for 3-year-olds at 6 1/2 furlongs.

Fourth among jockeys in the nation in victories this year, Fogelsonger, who won the Eclipse Award as top apprentice in 2002, has moved from Maryland.

*

One for the road: Wired N Ready has won two in a row at Delaware Park and can continue her roll in today’s fifth at Belmont Park, which begins its 38-day fall meet. The Birdonthewire filly worked a bullet six furlongs in Delaware for trainer Steve Klesaris before shipping and gets a top rider in Edgar Prado.

*

Exotically speaking: A trifecta in the fifth keying Long Division on top with Henry Higgins, Refocus and Badgerup in the two hole and all in the third spot.

*

Winners: Previous day/meet total: 3/90. Money: Previous day/meet total: $15/$516.60. Total money bet: $636.