Wicked Halo Keeps Streak Alive With Raven Run Score
Image:
Description:
Photo: Anne M. Eberhardt
Wicked Halo wins the Raven Run Stakes at Keeneland
Wicked Halo built a four-race win streak and gave her sire Gun Runner a sweep of the Oct. 22 stakes action at Keeneland with a dominant four-length score in the $334,500 Lexus Raven Run Stakes (G2).
Winchell Thoroughbreds' homebred 3-year-old filly came off a neck victory over Sterling Silver in the Sept. 2 Prioress Stakes (G2) at Saratoga Race Course, that after a 4 3/4-length romp in the July 14 Tepin Stakes at Churchill Downs on the back of a clear score in the Leslie's Lady Stakes at the Louisville track in early June.
The Steve Asmussen trainee joined grade 1 winner Gunite —who took the Perryville Stakes earlier on the card—to give their connections two lucrative trips to the winner's circle and left owner Ron Winchell experiencing a definite sense of deja vu.
"It looked like an exact repeat of Gunite's race two races earlier, and it literally was like exactly where he was at and finished how he finished," Winchell said. "And what can I say about Gun Runner? Gun Runner's proven to be such a durable sire, it's just amazing."
Prompting the pace three wide Saturday under Tyler Gaffalione, who has been aboard for her quartet of wins, Wicked Halo bided her time in the seven-furlong sprint while Smash Ticket clicked through a quarter in :22.73 and a half in :46.09 with Freedom Speaks in pursuit.
As three-quarters went in 1:11.04, the eventual winner moved into contention around the turn and took over in upper stretch, drawing off to finish well clear of the previously unbeaten New York-bred Fingal's Cave , who edged out Midnight Stroll for place honors by a neck.
The final time was 1:24.30 on a fast track.
"She did everything very easily," said Gaffalione, who also had the mount on Gunite. "I'm just so thankful I was able to get the opportunity to steer them around there. It was a lot of fun today."
Wicked Halo romps in the Raven Run
Wicked Halo returned $7.04 on a $2 win ticket as the 5-2 favorite in a nine-horse field.
"(Winning the two stakes is) extremely special," Asmussen said. "Their level of ability is obvious, but the fact that they thrive with racing and have continued to get better is so rare. I think (Wicked Halo) and Gunite are very similar in the fact that they've just accepted their job and continuously gotten faster. Obviously, they're very sound horses—great homebreds for Winchell (Thoroughbreds). I'm very fortunate to have them."
Asmussen confirmed Saturday that, along with Gunite, Wicked Halo will be pre-entered to the Breeders' Cup for a potential quick turnaround at Keeneland. She could race in the Nov. 5 Breeders' Cup Filly & Mare Sprint (G1).
MCCROSKEY: Gunite Wins Perryville, Could Run Back in Breeders' Cup
Bred in Kentucky, Wicked Halo is the second foal out of the Tapit mare Just Wicked , who captured the 2015 Adirondack Stakes (G2) for Winchell and Asmussen and is a full sister to grade 2 stakes victress My Miss Lilly . Just Wicked has produced two full siblings to Wicked Halo, an unraced 2-year-old colt named Wicked Again owned by Winchell and trained by Asmussen, and a yearling filly who sold last month for $1 million to agent Richard Knight from Gainesway's consignment to the Keeneland September Yearling Sale. The yearling is her last reported foal; she was bred back to Gun Runner for 2023.
(L-R): Scott Blasi leads Wicked Halo and Tyler Gaffalione to the winner's circle with Ron Winchell