Santa Anita: In the Stars starts back in a sprint

ARCADIA, Calif. – The sprinter Purim’s Dancer and miler In the Stars return to racing following summertime breaks in a $58,000 allowance race on the hillside turf course at Santa Anita on Friday. While bettors will rightfully focus on Purim’s Dancer, In the Stars could be effective in the race, run over about 6 1/2 furlongs on turf.

“It might be a little short, but we want to get her back in the game,” trainer Richard Mandella said on Wednesday.

“Being fresh, she could be good coming down the hill. She’s been rank in her races, and going 6 1/2 we won’t have to fight her.”

Mandella said that In the Stars had a couple of “little fender benders” that required a rest over the summer.

A 5-year-old Brazilian-bred mare by Romarin, In the Stars has won 3 of 13 starts and earned $183,129. She was second to Mizdirection in the Grade 2 Buena Vista Stakes over a mile on turf in February and fourth as the 1-2 favorite in the American Beauty Stakes over a mile on turf April 7. In Brazil in 2011, In the Stars was third in the Brazilian Oaks over about 1 1/4 miles on turf.

In the American Beauty, In the Stars was a handful for jockey Gary Stevens. She led by a length on the turn, but faded through the final furlong.

Friday’s race will be the shortest ever for In the Stars, who races for Allessandro Arcangeli.

Purim’s Dancer, trained by Tom Proctor, has raced primarily in turf sprints in her career, which includes 4 wins in 9 starts and earnings of $146,400.

Purim’s Dancer won her first stakes in her sixth start, the restricted Wishing Well Stakes on the hillside turf course in February. She was later third behind Mizdirection in the Grade 3 Las Cienegas Stakes on the hillside in April. In two turf stakes at Betfair Hollywood Park in the spring, Purim’s Dancer was fifth in the Grade 3 Wilshire Handicap over a mile and second in the Great Lady M. Stakes over six furlongs on May 26.

Friday’s allowance race drew only five runners, including A Time to Love, Magical Band, and Minds Eyes.

Minds Eyes won an allowance race on the hillside turf course in October 2012 and an optional claimer on the main track at Del Mar on Sept. 1.