Worst barn change ever? Diamondrella to Stevens
 

Hall of Fame jockey Gary Stevens, who never won the prestigious Matriarch Stakes (gr. IT) as a rider, will try to win the grade I test as a trainer with Diamondrella on Nov. 28 at Hollywood Park.

The grade I stakes-winning 5-year-old mare 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 (Nov. 12) morning,” said Stevens from Santa Anita Nov. 15. “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 in Lexington after finishing 11th in the Breeders’ Cup Turf Sprint at Santa Anita Nov. 7, but was bought back by IEAH and flown back to California Nov. 13 by way of Indianapolis.

Diamondrella, based in New York most of the year, enjoyed a banner campaign under previous trainer Angel Penna, winning three of five starts, including two grade I races: the Just A Game at Belmont and the First Lady at Keeneland.

Both victories were at one mile on turf, the same distance as The Matriarch, which is also for fillies and mares. Career-wise, the English-bred daughter of Rock of Gibraltar 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 another multiple grade I stakes winner, Ventura, to be ridden by Garrett Gomez for trainer Bobby Frankel.

Other probable starters include Tuscan Evening, Rutherienne and April Pride


http://www.bloodhorse.com/horse-raci...eyes-matriarch

IEAH loves the "wow" factor.

love how ivarone and the boys buy all these horses at peak value, just to watch them disapoint. no wonder the guy never made it as a penny-trader on wall street


-bt-

11th isnt hard to improve on for a last start .

Congrats on glossing over her two Grade I wins this year.

NT

Jeez , the title of the thread is worst barn change ever , I was just saying that he shouldnt have too hard of a time improving on her last start in which she finished 11th. Im not taking anything away from the horse just saying that she most likely will finish better than 11th in her next start. LOL esp. when you consider we only run 7 horse fields here in So Cali. ;)

So I guess this means Gary also gets free sprays for life at California Tan.

For sure! Its prolly more than his day rate$

I'm shocked that any owner of a horse would remove their horse from Angel Penna Jr.'s barn. I'm sure IEAH purchased her for her post racing career. She has the the bloodlines and has won a Grade 1. I'm not sure what winning the Matriarch would do to enhance her value.

Gary Stevens has a good mare in is barn and I hope he does well with her.

Me too!!!

Why is this a shock?
Effective in Jan., 2008, Gary took a position as Senior Advisor - Racing and Bloodstock Affairs for IEAH (International Equine Acquisition Holdings) Stables.

Logical next move isn't it

Worst Barn Change Ever? A little bit overdramatic don't ya think?

Are you familiar with Angel Penna? To date Gary Stevens has had absolute no-ones in his barn and now he's just going to be given a Grade I mare who Penna had done exceptional work with. It's a horrible barn change.

In addition, I found Gary Stevens to be one of the most pompous, self-effacing, bombastic people during his stints on TV and think he'll probably fit in great with IEAH.

NT

Yeah but other than that do you like the guy?

On another note, I wonder who will be heading the Juddmonte NA operation now?

Will they pick someone from the old guard or someone of a younger ilk?

Obviously you learn a lot from TV...He has always been pretty cool when I have been hanging out with him.

Stephanie Beattie.

Obviously Penna did a bad job with her.

I've only spent time with him once, but he was as far the opposite of pompous as one could ever get that day.

Stevens might be a nice guy but in the end who cares? The issue here is that a multiple Grade I winning filly was moved from a trainer who did a phenomenal job with her to a novice in the training game. I suppose this was Stevens' consolation prize for finding all of those ten-star purchases for IEAH.

NT

I love woman Trainer's, don't know why...:{>:

I have a feeling he will do a good job, the obvious thing is he can work the horse the way he wants hands on, and really it wouldn't be that unusual for a Jockey to make the switch to Trainer successfully, Ie. freddie Head.

Are there any other long-time jockeys that have had much success as trainers?

Only one I can think of is Cash Asmussen and he doesn't really fall into that category.

IEAH....

I: Idiots
E:Everywhere
A:Absolutley
H:Horrible

Iavarone
Eats
A
Horse Apple?

Not many of the high profile variety I would guess. I read somewhere Bob Baffert was a rider at one point though it was the 1/4 horse variety. Up until now I can only think of Freddy Head as one of the more prominant one's. I'm sure there are some less famous riders, I'll have to dig a little further...

Eddie Arcaro rode a Derby winner and trained one.

Pat Eddery won the Gr. 1 Grand Criterium as a Trainer this year, yeah I looked that one up...but I did know he was Training overseas.

This move can't be as bad as Wolfson to Tagg.

At least Stevens will have all of the miracles of modern medicine at his disposal!

Wayne Catalano rode and has been successful as a trainer.

Ranked as North America’s second-leading rider by wins in 1977.

Larry Jones.

Whatever happened to Gary Boulanger...Good to hear he's back in the biz.

http://www.miamiherald.com/sports/ho...y/1242386.html

Umm...he broke his neck.

The Jacksons sold Frolic's Dream last week at Keeneland for $320,000. I bet they paid a whole lot more for her.

No doubt!

Hopefully her previous connections bought her back. They can win the BC filly/mare sprint with her next year.

Why has it been moved to Gulfstream?

Wesley Ward was a jockey. I think a few started out as Jump riders Shepherd and Schulhoffer to name 2. Cordero won a stake with Holy Mountian.

John Longden trained Derby/Preakness winner Majestic Prince.

I recall after the BC Freddie Head talking about riding and training a great horse.

Steve Asmussen rode races too. Freddie Head in France rode Miesque to 2 BC Mile wins and trained Goldikova to the same.

stevens got a gift.. i could train /spot this one to win..