The Saint

With Lone Star's riding title in view, St. Julien is setting his mind on bigger things. This time, he won't let his confidence fail him. He plans to decide this week whether to ride the California fairs, which begin at Pomona in September.

That's the way the big boys made their step up to the Southern California thoroughbred racing circuit--the toughest in the world, and the richest.

St. Julien remembered the words of his riding idols after the All-Star Jockey Championship. First he got a compliment from Belmont victor Chris McCarron. Then, after the day's competition was over, St. Julien got Gary Stevens' autograph for his parents.

"After he signed it, he grabbed my hand and said, 'I really like the way you handle yourself--and you look real good on a horse.' He said if I ever wanted to come to California, I should look him up. He'd help me.

"I said a couple trainers had asked me to go to Pomona, and he said, 'Good. You'll be all right.'

"I didn't sleep that night."