At the time of the surgery, it appeared Stevens probably was finished for the meet, but his recuperation has been steady and good, and he's been getting on horses in the morning for about a week. He has said he would not put a timetable for his return, just let his body tell him when it seemed right.
Healing quickly, Hall of Fame rider Gary Stevens will give his right knee a serious test Friday at Del Mar when he rides for the first time since having arthroscopic surgery Aug. 1 to remove bone chips from the knee.Stevens has the call on Irish Muldoon for trainer Scott Hansen in Friday's fifth race, an allowance event for Cal-breds.