Hall of Fame jockey Gary Stevens rode his 5,000th winner in North America in a $58,000 feature Friday at Santa Anita.
The 51-year-old jockey guided 4-5 favorite Catch a Flight to a neck victory for Hall of Fame trainer Richard Mandella.
Stevens was joined in the winner's circle by Mandella, the jockey's wife Angie and their 5-year-old daughter Maddie.
''It's very special,'' Stevens said. ''The owners, the trainers have been nice enough to put me on all these good horses through the years. It's been a lot of hard work, a lot of fun and obviously, I love it or I wouldn't be out there.''
He reached 5,000 wins in his career in 2005 before retiring for seven years. He resumed his career two years ago.
Stevens has won three Kentucky Derbies, a record nine Santa Anita Derbies and 10 Breeders' Cup races in his career. He has ridden full-time in England, France and Hong Kong.
