In the Stars sparkles in Indiana General Assembly Distaff at Horseshoe Indianapolis

Apparently it was in the stars that In the Stars would be a grass horse. The 4-year-old filly earned her first “black type” while running her record to 4-for-7 on turf with a 1 1/2-length victory over Princess Attitude in the $100,000 Indiana General Assembly Distaff Handicap Saturday at Horseshoe Indianapolis.

“We liked her so much, and I thought she could run on the dirt,” Rusty Arnold, who trains In the Stars for owner G. Watts Humphrey Jr., said by phone from Lexington, Ky. “The first couple of times I ran her, I was just shocked she didn’t run well. I put her on the turf, and she ran really good, was second. I said, ‘It was because she ran around two turns. She’ll come around back on dirt.’ And she couldn’t run any worse. I put her back on the turf, and she’s been good ever since.”

In the Stars won for the fourth time in her past six starts, a streak that started with a seven-length maiden victory Aug. 30 at Kentucky Downs. That was followed with a Keeneland allowance win, a seventh (though beaten only 3 1/2 lengths) against very tough company in Churchill Downs’ Grade 2 Mrs. Revere and another Keeneland allowance score. In her last start, Churchill Downs’ Grade 3 Mint Julep, In the Stars was a close fourth.

In the Stars’ overall record improved to 4-1-1 in 11 starts, earning $355,812 with the $58,200 payday. Far more than the money, the General Assembly Distaff win was important because it awards “black type,” the designation in pedigrees for the industry’s better races. In the Stars has a massive pedigree, as a daughter of super-sire Into Mischief and out of 2007 Horse of the Year Curlin’s daughter Stellar Wind, the 2015 3-year-old filly champion.

“I have to tell you that really helps the family,” Arnold said. “She’d made plenty of money, but now that makes it look even nicer. We think she’s a nice filly. Her last race in a graded stakes was good. She’s won four of her last six, so hopefully now she’s coming to Kentucky Downs. She loved it down there last year. That’s kind of what got her going.”

Jockey Luis Saez had In the Stars in sixth early, rallying on the outside turning for home, taking over the lead in mid-stretch from pacesetting Go Town. She had plenty left to finish the 1 1/16 miles over firm turf in 1:39.44, just off the course record of 1:39.38 set last year by Encino. In the Stars paid $8.20 as the second choice in the field of eight older fillies and mares.

“Good break from the gate. She’s a filly that always tries so hard,” Saez said. “Today, she put me in a great spot. She finished pretty strong. Rusty has done an amazing job with her. She’s getting better and better.”

Crystal Conning, Arnold’s assistant trainer, was at Horseshoe Indianapolis with In the Stars.

“The team is definitely going to be very excited to get that black type on her pedigree now,” she said. “She’s been a really hard-knocking little filly, and we really like her. So we’re super happy she’s finally got that on her record. Luis gave her a perfect ride, and when he produced her late in the stretch, it was game over. She loves it.”

Princess Attitude, with Mario Gutierrez up, gave Humphrey a 1-2 finish, with runner-up trained by the owner’s daughter, Vicki Oliver. It was another half-length back to favored Miwa, who rallied from seventh to finish a neck ahead of Modarosa. Longshot Go Town tired to fifth but was placed sixth for impeding Charlene’s Dream. Always Wanting and Calamity rounded out the field. 

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