Stevens Adds Gold Cup to His Collection

Jockey Gary Stevens wasn’t sure he could ever match the year he had in 1995.

He won 16 Grade I races, including the Kentucky Derby and Belmont Stakes with Thunder Gulch and an emotional Santa Anita Derby with Larry The Legend.

Midway through 1997, Stevens, 34, says the current year is even better. In the first six months he won the Kentucky Derby and Preakness with Silver Charm and was elected to the sport’s Hall of Fame. Sunday, he added the $1-million Hollywood Gold Cup aboard Gentlemen.

“This year has been like a fairy tale,” Stevens said. “I enjoyed it in 1995, but even more so now.”

Also enjoyable was the ease with which Gentlemen defeated 13-10 favorite Siphon, winner of the Gold Cup last year. Gentlemen, the 8-5 second choice, tracked the pace-setting Siphon most of the 1 1/4-mile race, then passed him at the quarter pole en route to a four-length victory.

Gentlemen had lost his last race against Siphon in the Santa Anita Handicap last March, fading to third place when similar riding strategy was used.

“I knew that if I could be within a length of Siphon and get the right kind of trip, he was going to make Siphon run the last quarter,” Stevens said. “I knew he could finish better than he did in the Santa Anita Handicap.”

Stevens’ dream year will be interrupted this afternoon when he has arthroscopic surgery to repair torn cartilage in his right knee. He is expected to be sidelined two or three weeks.

“I’ve got an opportunity to get it out of the way,” he said. “I would hate to be midway through the summer and have it come back and haunt me later in the year and risk missing the Breeders’ Cup [in November at Hollywood Park.]”

Horse Racing Notes

Gary Stevens had to settle for third aboard Donna Viola in Sunday’s other Grade I race at Hollywood Park, the $300,000 Beverly Hills Handicap. Following her victory three weeks earlier against softer competition in the Estrapade Stakes, Windsharp kicked away from her five opponents in the stretch to win by 3 1/2 lengths in 2:00 3/5 for the 1 1/4 miles on turf.

Different, the 2-1 favorite and winner of the race last year, was a troubled second, nearly two lengths ahead of Donna Viola. Stevens claimed foul against Windsharp and jockey Corey Nakatani for alleged interference approaching the stretch, but the stewards made no change. . . . Returning after a layoff of more than 11 months, Score Quick scored a $72.40 surprise in the $196,300 Triple Bend Breeders’ Cup Handicap at Hollywood Park. Score Quick, ridden by Goncalino Almeida, defeated Elmhurst by a half-length in 1:21 for seven furlongs. Northern Afleet, the 19-10 favorite, was fourth, a half-length behind First Intent. . . . Score Quick was one of two longshot winners for trainer Mel Stute Sunday. He won the fifth race with Lets Get Cozzy at $156.60.