Stevens' comeback ahead of schedule

ARCADIA, Calif. – Hall of Fame jockey Gary Stevens spent Saturday and Sunday morning exercising horses at Santa Anita and said he is planning a comeback from summertime knee-replacement surgery as early as November.

Stevens, who has not ridden since July 6 at Monmouth Park, does not have a specific target date for a return to riding but said it will be before the opening day of the Santa Anita winter-spring meeting Dec. 26.

“I’ll be back before then,” Stevens said.

In July, Stevens underwent knee-replacement surgery and feared at the time it could be the end of his career after suffering several knee injuries.

On Sunday, after working Breeders’ Cup Sprint candidate Fast Anna, Stevens said his comeback is ahead of schedule.

“It’s really starting to be pain-free,” Stevens said. “I’m a lot fitter than I thought I’d be.”

Stevens, 51, worked horses Saturday and feared he would encounter soreness Sunday.

“I didn’t know if it would be that jarring,” he said Sunday. “I woke up this morning and was all right. I had some sleepless nights until last night.”

Stevens has won 4,988 races in North America and more than 5,000 in his career. He returned to riding after an absence of seven years in January 2013 and had an excellent year, winning races such as the Preakness Stakes, Breeders’ Cup Classic, and BC Distaff.

Stevens often was selective with mounts and intends to take the same approach during his comeback, he said. Stevens said his longtime agent, Craig O’Bryan, will continue to book his mounts.

“I’ll let Craig do his job, and I’ll go out and ride,” he said.

The knee replacement has had other sporting benefits such as the ability to return to the golf course, he said.

“I wasn’t able to play golf since the spring,” he said. “It was too painful.”

Asked whether a return to golf has affected his handicap, Stevens was quick with an answer.

“I don’t talk about it,” he said, smiling. “I’m having fun.”

Fast Anna, second in the Gallant Bob Stakes at Parx Racing in his last start, worked five furlongs in 1:01. Trained by Kathy Ritvo, Fast Anna was second in the King’s Bishop Stakes at Saratoga in August.

Stevens said Fast Anna worked slowly for the first quarter-mile.

“I cruised the early part and picked it up every furlong,” Stevens said.