Hall of Fame jockey Gary Stevens has finished third in the first race of his comeback from a seven-year retirement at Santa Anita.

He was aboard Jebrica in the sixth race on Sunday, a claiming race over 1600 metres on the turf. They were running second late in the race before finishing a nose behind runner-up Deacon Speakin'.

"I thought, 'Man, this is going to be a storybook comeback.' It wasn't meant to be, but it was close enough," Stevens said.

"That's the first time I've knuckled down on one in seven years, and it felt good."

Aaron Gryder, who rode the winner Maybe Tuesday, said he enjoyed having Stevens back.

"Gary looked good and it was fun to have him back in the jocks' room," he said.

It was Stevens' only mount on the card.

Afterward, he hurried off to shower, change and get in the HRTV booth in time to analyse the featured Monrovia Stakes.

"It feels good to get the cobwebs out, and I feel good," said Stevens, who had battled knee pain for the last several years of his career.

Stevens announced last week that he was launching a comeback because he still has a passion for riding.

The jockey, who turns 50 in March, plans to juggle his TV work with the horse racing channel and NBC Sports while riding. He says he will be selective in how many races he rides in.