Stevens plans to ride at Oaklawn Park

Hall of Fame rider Gary Stevens said Monday he plans to winter at the Oaklawn Park meet that opens in January. He is scheduled to ride the opening-day card Dec. 26 at Santa Anita, then get on the road to Hot Springs, Ark. Stevens said he plans to be working horses at Oaklawn no later than Jan. 2. The meet starts Jan. 12.

Stevens will be among a handful of new riders at Oaklawn. Jockey Alan Garcia said Saturday he will base at Oaklawn for the first time this winter, while David Cohen said last week he plans to set up shop in Hot Springs. Stevens said there were several appealing reasons to base at Oaklawn.

“The purses are great there,” he said. “And I’ve been very fortunate at Oaklawn since the start of my career, winning some major stakes races. One of my first was the Fantasy, with Tiffany Lass [in 1986], and I went on to win my first classic, the Kentucky Oaks, on her. My first Derby ride came from an Arkansas Derby win with Tank’s Prospect, for Wayne Lukas and Eugene Klein.”

Stevens, 54, said his wife and daughter will be making the move with him to Oaklawn. He said he plans to travel to Southern California for select mounts over the winter.

“I ride four or five really good horses here on the West Coast, and hopefully I can retain the mounts on them,” Stevens said. “That’s why we have airplanes – have saddle will travel.”

Jay Fedor will represent Stevens at Oaklawn.

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