Headley, Stevens team up with Storm Fighter in Santa Anita Derby

Headley, Stevens team up with Storm Fighter in Santa

Anita Derby

In terms of Santa Anita Derby wins, trainer Bruce Headley is a

rookie, despite his 78 years. Jockey Gary Stevens, on the other hand, has won the West

Coast's major steppingstone to the Kentucky Derby a record nine times.

Headley and Stevens, no spring chicken himself in jockey

years at 50, team up Saturday when Stevens rides Storm Fighter for Headley in

the Grade 1 Santa Anita Derby.

Headley has never won the race, whose winners have gone on

to capture the Run for the Roses nine times. A trainer of the hay, oats and

water philosophy since he began his career in 1963, the California native was

second once, in 1992 with Bertrando, who led into the stretch before 9-10

favorite A.P. Indy overtook him under Eddie Delahoussaye to win by nearly two

lengths.

"Bertrando was a great horse and a great stallion, who

still has his progeny doing well at the races," said Headley, who on Saturday

tries his luck in the 76th Santa Anita Derby with promising California-bred

maiden winner Storm Fighter.

Bertrando, an Eclipse Award winner as champion older male in

1993 and a leading California sire before his retirement in 2011, won or placed

in 15 Grade 1 or Grade 2 stakes while earning $3,185,610 during his five seasons

of racing.

A bay colt by Stormin Fever, Storm Fighter is owned by one of California's iconic

Thoroughbred operations, Golden Eagle Farm.

"They've had great horses at Golden Eagle and this one is

an exceptionally good-looking horse," Headley said of Storm Fighter, who broke

his maiden against older horses by nearly six lengths going 1 1/16 miles on

March 2. "He looks like a mile and a quarter horse, with high withers, big

shoulders and big girth. He's a big horse."

It doesn't hurt his chances that Headley has Stevens riding

with his record nine Santa Anita Derby victories. This will be his first ride in

the race since coming off a seven-year retirement three months ago. His last

Santa Anita Derby win came in 2003 aboard Buddy Gil.

"We're lucky to have Stevens," Headley said.

The feeling is mutual.

"I love my draw," the Hall of Fame jockey stated. "It's a

perfect fit."

Stevens has already done his pre-race homework. Now it's in

the hands of fate.

"When the gates open," he said, "it's up to the Man Upstairs

and the four feet of my horse.

"He's obviously an intelligent colt to be able to come off

of a sprint race where he sat just a couple lengths off a :21 and two first

quarter, a :44 and change half. You would have thought he would have been in

front when we stretched him out to two turns.

"I told them I was just going to let him get away from

there and he sat 3 1/2 lengths off an almost :24 first quarter and a :47 half. He

was very kind, very ratable and finished up the right way. His works have been

outstanding since he's come back from that race.

"The only work I rode him was the mile where he went 1:40 (4/5 on March 25).

He finished up the right way that morning, so I'm pleased and they're pleased."

Stevens is scheduled to leave for Kentucky after Sunday's

riding engagements here.

"I ride Wednesday, Thursday and Friday there, and ride (Oxbow for D. Wayne

Lukas) in the (Grade 1) Arkansas Derby on Saturday (April 13). Then the

following week I ride Titletown Five (also for Lukas) in the (Grade 3) Illinois

Derby (at Hawthorne on April 20), fly back here (to California) and if

everything goes according to plan, ride Smart Ellis in the (Grade 2) San Juan

(Capistrano on April 21)."

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