Comeback Hall of Fame jockey Gary Stevens collected his second stakes victory in two days when he piloted Purim's Dancer to victory in the $75,000 Wishing Well Stakes at Santa Anita Park Feb. 10. Stevens scored with Slim Shadey one day earlier in the San Marcos Stakes (gr. IIT) at Santa Anita.
Purim’s Dancer was timed in 1:12.25 coming down the hillside turf course going 6 1/2 furlongs. Trainer Tom Proctor decided late to run Purim's Dancer in the Wishing Well, and her regular pilot, Garrett Gomez, had already committed to ride Nechez Dawn in the race for older fillies and mares.
"It feels tremendous," said Stevens, "because of guys like Tom Proctor here and everyone who has supported me through the years and giving me a shot once again. It's time to capitalize and we are, but it's good horses that put you in the winner's circle."
Purim's Dancer paid $8.80, $5.40 and $4.20. Owned by Doug Donnelly, Corey Johnsen, Lenny Kohn, and Gene McLean, Purim's Dancer, a 4-year-old filly by the Dynaformer stallion Purim, picked up $48,300 for the win and increased her earnings to $117,960 from a record of 6-4-0-1. Dancingtothestars, off at 16-1, was fanned four-wide turning for home and ran second, 1 1/4 lengths in front of 5-2 favorite Byrama.