2016 Gamely winner Illuminant opts for Monrovia

Illuminant, who was nominated to both the Grade I, $300,000 Gamely Stakes and the Grade II, $200,000 Monrovia Stakes on Saturday, runs in the latter at about 6 1/2 furlongs on turf instead of the nine furlong Gamely on grass, which she won last year.

Illuminant won the restricted Wishing Well Stakes at about 6 ½ furlongs on Santa Anita’s turf March 10 before finishing seventh in the Grade I Jenny Wiley at 1 1/16 on Keeneland’s turf course April 15.

“She’s obviously been very good going down the hill and at 1 1/8 miles on turf, having won over both courses,” explained trainer Michael McCarthy. “She won the Gamely last year and has impressed the four times she’s run down the hill.

“There were a few things that went into our decision to run in the Monrovia: we can continue with Flavien Prat (who has ridden the five-year-old Quality Road mare in her last six races, winning three), plus, it still sets us up nicely for a summer program.

“Either way, we’re going to lead her over there with a lot of confidence.”

The Monrovia: Swift Lady, Martin Garcia, 15-1; Spy Ring, Mike Smith, 20-1; Watch This Cat, Rafael Bejarano, 10-1; Illuminant, Flavien Prat, 9-5; Coniah, Irad Ortiz Jr., 8-1; Juno, Kent Desormeaux, 8-1; Paquita Coqueta, Gary Stevens, 8-1; Enola Gray, Tyler Baze, 5-2; and Anita Partner, Brice Blanc, 12-1.

To quote the late Yogi Berra, it was “Déjà vu all over again” this past Saturday at Santa Anita, as Gary Stevens once again brought his Hall of Fame riding skills to bear in the 11th and final race aboard a horse trained by his longtime friend Mike Chambers, who helped Stevens launch his incredible career 36 years ago at Longacres Park near Seattle.

Most recently campaigned at Turf Paradise, Wood Machine, a 5-year-old Kentucky-bred gelding by Curlin, was entered for a $32,000 claiming tag at a flat mile on turf. Off at 9-1 in a field of eight, he rallied four-wide turning for home and in a protracted drive, was up to win by a half length.

“I first started riding for Mike in 1981 and he really helped me get going,” said Stevens, from the Santa Anita Jockeys’ Room on Sunday. “He got me rolling in Seattle and that led to a snowball for me down here. I was at his barn first thing in the morning, every morning. We’re super close, we’re like brothers.”

A jockey/trainer combination to be reckoned with in any locale and on any stage, Stevens and Chambers teamed up to win the1985 Hollywood Juvenile Championship by eight lengths with Washington-bred Hilco Scamper. Twelve years later, they partnered with the multiple graded stakes winning sprinter Hesabull in the 1997 Breeders’ Cup Sprint at HollywoodPark. Although he led well inside the sixteenth pole, Hesabull was beaten a half length by a fast finishing Elmhurst, with Corey Nakatani up.

“When I won that race Saturday, I told some guys here in the room, ‘It’s been about 30 years since I won a race in these colors. He wasn’t able to be here, he’s up in Alaska right now, but I texted him and he texted back, ‘You’re the best. We’ve still got it!’

“Coming into that race, Mike had 10 starters this year, with three winners,” Stevens said.“He’s got horses here now and he wants to build his stable. It’s great to have him back.”

With Stevens still going strong at 54 and Chambers, 69, back in Southern California with a small stable, it’s safe to say we haven’t heard the last of this timeless duo, who’ve shared a lot of wins and even more laughs through parts of four decades.

FINISH LINES: Trainer Ian Kruljac plans to work champion Finest City Saturday “to see if she feels like running in the Beholder.” . . . Breeders’ Cup Turf Sprint runner-up Om, who worked six furlongs Wednesday in 1:14.20 as he nears a return to the races, could surface at Santa Anita before the meet ends July 4, trainer Dan Hendricks said . . . Musical agents, take two: J.R. Pegram now represents Edwin Maldonado in addition to Stewart Elliott; Nelson Arroyo has Kent Desormeaux and his brother, Norberto Jr.; Tommy Ball has Israel Ocampo and Chantal Sutherland; apprentice Ruben Fuentes has Saul Marquez; and Joe Griffin, who formerly had Maldonado, is looking for a rider . . . Outside looking in dept.: Thisone’sforjimmy, 8-1 morning line chance in today’s fifth race, starts from post position three after landing the one hole in her last four races . . . There is a single ticket Pick Six carryover today of $253,350 . . . Martin Pedroza is suspended three days through May 29 for causing interference on Crown the Kitten in Saturday’s 11th race, resulting in a disqualification from second to fifth.