Cyberknife Prevails Over Howling Time in Matt Winn

In his first effort since a disappointing finish in the Kentucky Derby Presented by Woodford Reserve (G1), Cyberknife  prevailed by the slimmest of noses over Howling Time  in an epic battle down the Churchill Downs homestretch June 12 in the Matt Winn Stakes (G3).

The lanky, talented son of Gun Runner   burst onto the forefront of the leading Kentucky Derby contenders with his decisive victory in the Arkansas Derby (G1).

Considered the best of Brad Cox’s trio heading into the first Saturday in May, the colt, who his trainer says is still learning to put it together in the afternoons, retreated to finish 18th after being fanned eight-wide around the final turn. Cyberknife regrouped and returned to the work tab two weeks later while explicably avoiding any further Triple Crown races.

Bet down as the heavy 1-2 favorite in the Matt Winn in what the handicappers figured was a cakewalk for the colt, the Dale Romans-trained Howling Time gave Cyberknife all he could handle on Sunday afternoon. Breaking on top, Joe Talamo sent Howling Time to the front with a keen Cyberknife giving chase past opening fractions of :24.19 and :47.18. Past the six-furlong marker in 1:11.51, Florent Geroux and Cyberknife pounced on Howling Time as both colts blazed full tilt toward the wire. Howling Time leveled down resiliently, refusing to let Cyberknife gain an advantage to his outside, and only the photo could declare Cyberknife the winner in a finish too close to call with the naked eye.

“He was traveling well and (Howling Time) was really game on my inside,” Geroux said. “We were battling the whole stretch. I couldn’t tell which one of us won, but I’m glad it was Cyberknife.”

“You can’t get a more brutal beat than that,” Talamo said.

Howling Time entered the Matt Winn off a dominant, front-running score in a May 21 allowance optional claiming race at Churchill.

Cyberknife, the official winner by a nose, raced 1 1/16 miles on a fast track in a swift 1:41.98. Bearing gold square colors, the colt earned the second graded-stakes win of his career.

Rattle N Roll , still unable to find the form that won the Claiborne Breeders’ Futurity (G1) as a 2-year-old, settled for third, six lengths behind the top two.

"(Cyberknife) is still a developing 3-year-old,” Cox said. “I think he’s making good progress and ran hard today. We got on the right side of a tight photo. (Howling Time) ran a really game race. (Cyberknife) is a horse that I think we are looking to take the next step. He’s a sound, happy horse and he’s growing up. We’re excited about him as a prospect throughout the rest of the year.”

The Kentucky-bred chestnut was consigned by his breeder, Ramsey Farm, at the 2020 Fasig-Tipton Selected Yearlings Showcase, where he dropped the hammer for $400,000 to agent Joe Hardoon.

He is out of the graded stakes-placed, six-time stakes-winning Flower Alley mare Awesome Flower , the dam of two winners from three foals to race. Hailing from the family of Dubai World Cup Sponsored by Emirates Airline (G1) hero Well Armed , Awesome Flower has an unraced 2-year-old son of Tapit  named Tapit Shoes and delivered a colt by Authentic   this spring.

Video: Matt Winn S. (G3)

Wicked Halo Returns to Winner's Circle in Leslie's Lady

Earlier on the card, Winchell Thoroughbreds' Wicked Halo  returned to the winner's circle for the first time since capturing the Adirondack Stakes (G2) at Saratoga Race Course last summer, taking the $160,000 Leslie's Lady Overnight Stakes for 3-year-old fillies. The gray or roan filly, trained by Steve Asmussen, gave sire Gun Runner   his second stakes winner of the afternoon.

Wicked Halo ran third in the Eight Belles Stakes presented by TwinSpires (G2) on Kentucky Oaks Day behind Saturday's impressive Acorn Stakes (G1) winner Matareya . Wicked Halo was sent off Sunday as the 2-1 second choice in the field of five. Under jockey Tyler Gaffalione, Wicked Halo tracked favored Pretty Birdie  through an opening quarter in :23:07 and half-mile in :45.41 before engaging that rival at the top of the lane. Pretty Birdie, who bested Wicked Halo for runner-up honors in the Eight Belles, fought on gamely, but Wicked Halo kicked clear for a 2 3/4-length score.

Sweet as Pie  was a distant third.

Wicked Halo ran seven furlongs in 1:22.61 on a fast main track. She improved her earnings to $313,050 for the third win of her seven-start career.

Wicked Halo is a third-generation homebred for Winchell Thoroughbreds, who campaigned her dam, the grade 2-winning Tapit   mare Just Wicked . The mare has two other full siblings to Wicked Halo, an unraced 2-year-old colt named Wicked Again and a yearling filly. She was bred back to Gun Runner for the 2022 breeding season.

Video: Leslie's Lady Overnight S. (BT)