Perhaps not surprising that he would start getting some horses from IEAH, as he worked for them as a consultant before becoming a trainer (and maybe still does, i don't know).


from Brisnet:


Hall of Fame jockey Gary Stevens, who never won the prestigious Matriarch S. (G1) as a rider, will try to win the test as a trainer with DIAMONDRELLA (GB) (Rock of Gibraltar [Ire]) on November 28 at Hollywood Park. The Grade 1-winning five-year-old was an unexpected addition last week to the Santa Anita barn of Stevens, who began training in May.

"I got a surprise call early Thursday morning," Stevens said Sunday from Santa Anita. "Michael (Iavarone, head of owner IEAH Stables) informed me that she was coming. It was a big confidence booster."

Diamondrella was shipped to Kentucky for the Fasig-Tipton Sale after finishing 11th in the Breeders' Cup Turf Sprint at Santa Anita on November 7, but was bought back by IEAH for $1.1 million and flown back to California by way of Indianapolis early Friday morning.

The bay mare, based in New York most of the year, enjoyed a banner campaign under previous trainer Angel Penna Jr., winning three of five starts, including two Grade 1 races --the Just a Game S. at Belmont and the First Lady S. at Keeneland. Both victories were at one mile on turf, the same distance as the Matriarch. Career-wise, the English-bred has won eight of 18 starts and earned $784,576.


"The Matriarch is the target," said Stevens, who plans to supplement the mare for $6,000. "She showed up in great shape. Angel did a great job with her. I just walked her this morning."

The Matriarch was one of the few major stakes in Southern California that eluded Stevens as a jockey. He finished second twice behind champion Flawlessly, with Fire the Groom in 1991 and Toussaud in 1993.

Diamondrella's toughest competition is expected from multiple Grade 1 winner VENTURA (Chester House), who captured the Woodbine Mile (Can-G1) over the boys and finished second in the Breeders' Cup Filly & Mare Sprint (G1) in her last two. The Bobby Frankel-trained five-year-old will be ridden by Garrett Gomez. Other probable starters include last-out Las Palmas H. (G2) queen TUSCAN EVENING (Ire) (Oasis Dream [GB]), Grade 1 heroine RUTHERIENNE (Pulpit) and Harold C. Ramser Sr. H. (G3) victress APRIL PRIDE (GB) (Falbrav [Ire]).

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