Purim's Dancer Wins Santa Anita Feature

Under an aggressive ride from Garrett Gomez, 3-2 favorite Purim’s Dancer hugged the temporary rail turning for home and won Friday’s $58,000 St. Joseph River Purse going away by 2 ¼ lengths, getting 6 ½ furlongs down Santa Anita’s hillside turf course in 1:11.61.

“I was in a good spot when we hit the dirt (crossing) and I shoved her into drive,” said Gomez. “We had a little trouble catching Joe (Talamo, aboard runner-up Hidinginplainsight) but when she settled into stride, she did what she was supposed to.”

Idle since running third in a similar first-condition allowance going six furlongs at Betfair Hollywood Park on Dec. 1, Purim’s Dancer is now a perfect two for two down Santa Anita’s unique hillside layout, as she took a starter allowance down the hill on Oct. 26.

Trained by Tom Proctor, Purim’s Dancer paid $5.00, $3.00 and $2.40. Owned by Donnelly, Johnson, Kohn and McLean, the 4-year-old Kentucky-bred filly by Purim improved her record to 5-3-0-1, and with the winner’s share of $34,800, roughly doubled her bankroll to $69,660.

Hidinginplainsight was sent by Talamo from the gate and carved out splits of 21.36, 43.14 and 1:05.61. She finished 2 ¼ lengths in front of 14-1 shot Noise of the Crowd and Aaron Gryder. Hidinginplainsight returned $3.40 and $3.00.

Noise of the Crowd was attentive to the early pace and finished a nose in front of Cayanna and Mario Gutierrez.

Noise of the Crowd paid $5.40 to show.

With a Pick Six carryover of $59,161 serving as a catalyst, punters ran the total Pick Six pool on Friday to $482,285. There were 41 winning tickets, seven of them purchased on-track, which each paid $6,949.

Santa Anita’s 20 percent on-track Pick Six bonus will be in effect on Saturday, as any winning ticket purchased at Santa Anita will be worth 20 percent more than the pari-mutel payoff. Fans are required to join the Thoroughbreds Club and to scan their membership cards prior to making Pick Six wagers, in order to be eligible.