Stevens Nixes Oaklawn Plans, Will Team Up With Ruis Stable

Mick Ruis & Gary Stevens | Benoit Photo

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Hall of Fame jockey Gary Stevens has agreed to be the stable rider for Ruis Racing, a growing force in the sport that is based in Southern California. With the move he will stay in California and has cancelled plans to ride at the upcoming Oaklawn meet.

Ruis, a former trainer, returned to the sport in a big way as an owner after making a substantial amount of money selling his business, American Scaffold. Ruis has been busy at the sales of late, purchasing a number of well-bred, expensive horses.

“Mick Ruis Racing retained me to stay here and enter into a partnership with them,” Stevens said. “They have purchased a lot of bloodstock this year and they're based here in California. I'll be riding for them, but still open to ride other horses when not booked with them.

“They bought a lot of yearlings this year. They already have a top filly in Union Strike (Union Rags). She won the [GI] Del Mar Debutante this year and ran in the Breeders' Cup, where she had a rough trip. They're planning to run her back in the [GI] Starlet Dec. 10. They've got a lot of nice yearlings with great pedigrees. You never know if they'll run to their pedigrees. You know how that goes. But he bought enough of them that I'm sure we'll come up with some good runners.”

Said Ruis: “We have known Gary and the Stevens family for years. To be able to work together to develop these horses is a great opportunity for both of us. We are excited to see where this takes us.”

Stevens, 53, said he definitely plans to ride throughout all of 2017, but admitted he can't go on forever.

“It's winding down right now and this gives me a lot more options,” he said. “Hopefully, this will be more than just a riding partnership. Hopefully, it will work out to be something more with Mick.”

The Ruis Stable owns a spot in the $12-million GI Pegasus World Cup, but does not yet have a starter for the race. Stevens said that Ruis is working to fill the void.

“Right now, he's still in the process of working that out,” Stevens revealed. “He's received some phone calls and has made some phone calls and we're looking to fill that spot either by a lease or a partnership. We're also trying to acquire a horse for ourselves to run. We are open to all possibilities.”

 

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