Stevens set to return from hip-replacement surgery

ARCADIA, Calif. – Hall of Fame jockey Gary Stevens returns to riding at Santa Anita on Thursday for the first time since undergoing a hip-replacement operation in December.

Stevens, who turned 54 Monday, rides Oopper Wallah in the fourth race, a $40,000 claimer at six furlongs, and Jabber Now in the eighth race, a maiden race for California-bred fillies and mares on turf. Stevens has two mounts Friday, including Paquita Coqueta in the $75,000 Wishing Well Stakes for fillies and mares on the hillside turf course.

Stevens resumed working out horses in late February. He has said in recent weeks that he has experienced no discomfort in the hip after resuming activity.

Thursday’s program will be the first mounts for Stevens since Dec. 10 at Los Alamitos. In 2016, Stevens won 40 races from 316 mounts. His top mount was Beholder, who won the Breeders’ Cup Distaff at Santa Anita in November.