Kent Desormeaux

Before yesterday, there was only one major omission on jockey Gary Stevens' resume.Stevens had won the Kentucky Derby three times and the Belmont Stakes once, ridden four winners in the Breeders' Cup and earlier this month was elected to the Thoroughbred Hall of Fame.But the Idaho native had gone 0-for-8 with previous Preakness mounts, finishing third five times, including last year on Editor's Note.That all changed at Pimlico yesterday, when Stevens got Silver Charm to stick his head in front of Free House in a stirring stretch duel, with favored Captain Bodgit only another head behind.

Chris McCarron, hero of last year's mud-splattered Kentucky Derby, is a jockey in search of a mount.The Hall of Fame rider, who has ridden in a dozen Derbies, is horseless this year for the first time since 1989."

In a coming episode of "Baywatch," Kent Desormeaux plays the role of a blind jockey named Corey L'Auberge."The jockey regains his sight, but is too scared to ride again until a girl he meets gives him the confidence to continue his career," Desormeaux said.No, the girl isn't the comely Pamela Anderson. "But someone even prettier," Desormeaux said.But it's Kent Desormeaux the rider, and not the actor, that Maryland racing fans will see in action tomorrow in more than $500,000 worth of stakes at Pimlico Race Course.

ARCADIA, Calif. -- Although Kent Desormeaux was quicker to reach 3,000 wins than any other jockey in history, it took him a bit longer than expected to crest the plateau.Desormeaux, a former Maryland standout, had 2,999 wins Thursday, then was blanked at Keeneland on Friday and Golden Gate Fields on Saturday.On his home turf yesterday at Santa Anita Park, Desormeaux didn't waste much time. After finishing fifth in the first race, Desormeaux gained 3,000 with a victory on 6-1 shot Maisonsaire in the second.

ARCADIA, Calif. -- Just when Kent Desormeaux was starting to look invincible, he did the rest of the Southern California jockey colony a giant favor Monday.He got Siam Ruler disqualified from first to last for interference in the last race of the Oak Tree season at Santa Anita, and will almost certainly face a five-day suspension early in the Hollywood Park meet that started today.One handicapper said he's still even money to win the riding championship there.Desormeaux, 22, capped his third straight Oak Tree title by gunning Missionary Ridge to the lead coming down the grassy hill and holding on to win the Carleton F. Burke Handicap in front of 15,993 fans.

Kent Desormeaux is coming back to Pimlico Race Course.The king of the Maryland jockey colony before moving to the richer California circuit, Desormeaux will probably ride here all this week, according to his agent, Gene Short.Short reported yesterday that his client flew in from New York last night after riding In Excess in the Carter Handicap at Aqueduct and will give Best Pal his final tuneup for the Pimlico Special this morning, subject to weather conditions."He's on a couple [of horses]

LOUISVILLE, Ky. -- Arazi was officially discharged from quarantine Monday night and transferred to Barn 45 at Churchill Downs at 7 a.m. yesterday.He galloped a mile around the track with his exercise rider and groom, Raymond Lamornaca, and was in company with his constant companion, Akiko.About 100 reporters and photographers watched him train and then cool out, but three or four times that number might be out tomorrow morning, when he is expected a work about a half-mile.Head lad Fabien Gerard held an impromptu news conference and said that Arazi "is even better than [last]

ARCADIA, Calif. -- It takes a lot to be a good jockey. The limber muscles of a yogi, the hands of a sculptor, the timing of Big Ben.To be a great jockey, though, you need one more ingredient. A horse.Two years ago, Kent Desormeaux, fresh from a record 597-win season in Maryland, came to California to find the horse who would carry him to greatness.Arcaro had Whirlaway and Citation, Longden had Count Fleet, Shoemaker had Swaps. Nobody ever became a star in this game riding $16,000 claimers.

The situation involving the recording of workouts remains unsettled at Maryland tracks, although Laurel Race Course vice president Tim Capps said a solution should come shortly."

Inglewood, Calif.--Kent Desormeaux is no longer the kid who tore through Maryland, first as a cocky adolescent, then as racing's latest wunderkind. He is much more a man. The teen-age blemishes are gone, the deep brown eyes are more intense, the cuteness has become California handsome.Experience, something he was once so short on, is also his. He has a history, a sensational past. When Kent Desormeaux, all of 21, speaks now, there is an added measure of credibility, something only time could give.