Two early-bet, winning characters who are in the midst of extended layoffs will meet on February 19, $150,000 worth of Dixie Belle Stakes at Oaklawn Park. Winchell Thoroughbreds’ Evil Halo and Gayla Rankin’s Happy soul ships into Hot Springs for their second year debut in the long six-pile test for 3-year-old fillings.
After finishing second behind the boys in her April debut at KeenelandHappy Soul dominated the girls field with 11 3/4 length at Belmont Park before scoring in broad daylight at the Astoria Stakes on June 3. Astoria will be the start of her final season, as the daughter of Runhappy was put away for the rest of the year. Trained by Wesley Ward, Happy Soul prepared Dixie Belle at Santa Anita . Parkmake a 5x stretch move on: 59.40 Feb 6.
John Velazquez, who has gone through all three of the beginnings of his career, received this call.
Wicked Halo, from Steve Asmussen’s barn, became the first to win the first stake for the first breeding male Gunman when she scored her first win in the August 8 match Adirondack Stakes (G2) at Racecourse Saratoga. Two-episode debut dish at Lone Star Parkgray is third in Debutante Stakes at Churchill Downs before her 3 1/2 long walks in Adirondack.
She hit a five-leg bullet in 1:00 at Fair Grounds & Slots January 31st and will be test-drive by Geovanni Franco for the first time.
