FIRST BABY, FIRST BELMONT : PANAMANIAN JOCKEY DOUGLAS WOWED BY WINNING WEEK.

Byline: Kevin Modesti Daily News Staff Writer

Rene Douglas had a week to remember. And if you don't think the jockey remembers every detail of his life-changing and career-making experiences, just ask him.

Tuesday, Douglas' wife, Natalia, gave birth to the couple's first child, Giancarlo. Thursday, he learned he had been named to replace injured Gary Stevens aboard Editor's Note and ride in the Belmont Stakes for the first time. Saturday, he scored his biggest victory when Editor's Note rallied from 12th for a gritty win.

By Sunday morning, Douglas, 29, was back in the Hollywood Park jockeys' room, accepting handshakes and telling his New York story - every emotional moment of it - to all who would listen.

And wondering when he'll find time to phone his family in Panama to talk about the first Belmont victory by a member of that country's expatriate jockey colony since 1984, the year Swale gave Laffit Pincay his third straight.

``It won't happen too often, to be in a race like that and win it,'' he said between races Sunday. ``The first thing I thought when I crossed the wire was, `Everybody in Panama is watching this (on TV).' ''

After being graduated from the Panama Jockey School, Douglas was a leading rider at Calder and Hialeah in Florida, and rode turf stars Alice Springs and Caltech. He moved to the tougher California circuit last summer and bought a house in Arcadia, and has established himself as an aggressive, top-10 rider here.

Still, when Stevens injured a shoulder Wednesday, and Editor's Note trainer D. Wayne Lukas turned to Douglas, most bettors thought it was a ``negative'' jockey switch.

``I want people to believe in me,'' Douglas said. ``Everytime (they bet) $2, it's worth it, because I try hard whether my horse is a long shot or the favorite.

``You have the best riders here. It's not easy. But I always felt I was going to make it. My goal is to be on top in California.

Douglas' previous Triple Crown mounts were Fortune's Gone, 10th as the 79-1 long shot in the '92 Preakness, and Lukas-trained Victory Speech, fifth at 40-1 in the May 18 Preakness. He and agent Tony Matos turned down Lukas' invitation to ride Honour and Glory in the Kentucky Derby so he could ride Del Mar Dennis in the Mervyn LeRoy at Hollywood Park. Del Mar Dennis finished second, Honour and Glory 18th.

Editor's Note, at nearly 6-1 odds, looked like a better prospect to win. So Douglas broke six riding engagements at Hollypark on Saturday to fly east.

The colt entered the Belmont with a nine-race losing streak and a reputation for laziness. After watching the horse's races on tape and talking to Stevens - who was in New York to provide ABC-TV analysis - Douglas knew the last eighth of a mile of the 1-1/2-mile Belmont could be a problem.

``By the time we hit the half-mile pole, we were six lengths behind the leaders (Natural Selection, eventual runner-up Skip Away and Preakness winner Louis Quatorze), and I hadn't even asked him. I knew I was going to be tough.''

In the stretch, ``it looked like my horse was going to go right by. But he (Skip Away) stayed right there,'' Douglas said. ``I thought, `There's no way I'm going to finish second in the Belmont.' When I hit him left-handed, he responded to me. At that point, I was just anxious to get him to the wire.''

Stevens sought out Douglas to congratulate him.

``I was crying inside when he hugged me,'' Douglas said. ``That was his horse. That guy's got class.''

Douglas isn't sure if he found a key to Editor's Note that Stevens hadn't, or if he just got lucky Saturday. Either way, he's got a good story to tell.

A postscript: Jockey Chris Antley called in sick Sunday. Lukas replaced him with Douglas aboard Predictable in the sixth race. They won and paid $15.40.

Auriette wins: While Marty Jones was in New York, saddling another horse, Auriette and jockey Kent Desormeaux led from start to finish in the $214,600 Gamely Handicap at Hollywood Park to give the trainer his first Grade I victory.

Gary Jones, who retired in April and turned over most of his barn to his 24-year-old son, drove up from his new home in Del Mar to saddle the 4-year-old filly. Gary Jones never won the Gamely, which is one of Hollypark's major races for fillies and mares on turf.

Auriette paid $7.20. Favored Pharma was fifth behind 19-1 Flagbird, Didina and Angel in My Heart.

Musical jockeys: Corey Nakatani will sub for Stevens on Soul of the Matter, who will be the Hollywood Gold Cup favorite if Cigar doesn't make the $1 million race on June 30.

Trainer Richard Mandella's announcement signals his disenchantment with Desormeaux. Mandella said after the recent Metropolitan Handicap, in which Desormeaux rode Afternoon Deelites into a speed duel, that ``my patience is running out.''

Nakatani's departure from Mr Purple means the Santa Anita Handicap winner must find another new jockey. Eddie Delahoussaye, who rode him in the Big 'Cap, is committed to Tinners Way.

Notes: Hollywood Park holds Monday-night racing at 7 p.m. No apparent reason. . . . Fastness worked 5 furlongs (:59 3/5) to stay sharp for Sunday's $700,000 Shoemaker Mile.