Stevens switches agents

ARCADIA, Calif.- Hall of Fame jockey Gary Stevens has hired Mike Ciani to book his mounts, replacing longtime agent Craig O’Bryan, Stevens said on Sunday.

The change is effectively immediately.

Stevens said that he sought a change merely for the sake of change.

“I need to shake the tree a little bit,” Stevens said. “I want to try something different. It’s not a knock against Craig O’Bryan.”

O’Bryan, who has booked mounts on and off for Stevens for more than a decade, continues to represent Tyler Baze.

Stevens said he plans to ride primarily at Churchill Downs through June, but will ride at Santa Anita on June 25. Stevens is booked to ride Kobe’s Back in the $300,000 Triple Bend Stakes that day.

Stevens will ride full-time in Southern California with the start of the Del Mar summer meeting on July 15.

“It’s been a nice change to go to Kentucky,” he said. “I’m looking forward to Del Mar.”

Saturday, Stevens rode Beholder to a comfortable win in the $400,000 Vanity Mile at Santa Anita.