Evil Halo built a four-race winning streak and gave her the male Gunman Complete the staking action on October 22 at Keeneland with outstanding scores in four lengths in the $350,000 Lexus Raven Run Stakes (G2).
Winchell Thoroughbreds purebred 3-year-old boy got a win against Sterling Silver in Prioress Shares September 2 (G2) at Racecourse Saratogaafter a 4 3/4 race in the July 14 Tepin match at Churchill Downs The back view of a clear score in Leslie’s Lady Stakes at the Louisville racetrack in early June.
Trainee Steve Asmussen participated and won the first prize Gunite — who took the previous Perryville Stakes on the card — to give their relationships two fascinating trips to the winner’s circle, and to leave owner Ron Winchell experiencing a definite sensation. about deja vu.
“It looked like an exact repeat of Gunite’s two races before, and it really looked like exactly where he was and how he finished,” Winchell said. “And what can I say about Gun Runner? Gun Runner has proven to be such an enduring male, it’s amazing.”
Driving an extensive Saturday three-day pace led by Tyler Gaffalione, who joined her winning quartet, Wicked Halo took its time in the seven-time sprint while Ticket Smash went a quarter in: 22.73 and a half in: 46.09 with Freedom to speak are pursuing.
When the three-quarters played out in 1:11.04, the eventual winner switched to a turn dispute and prevailed in the upper stretch, retreating to a good end with the New York hybrid Fingal Cave who has gone beyond Walking at midnight for the place honored by an antique.
Final time is 1:24:30 on expressway.
“She made everything very easy,” Gaffalione said. “I’m grateful for the opportunity to guide them around. It was fun today.”
Wicked Halo rolls home in Raven Run
Wicked Halo returned $7.04 with a $2 winning ticket on a 5-2 pick in the nine-horse racetrack.
“(Winning two shares is) extremely special.” Asmussen said. “Their level of ability is obvious, but it’s rare for them to thrive on racing and keep getting better. I think (Wicked Halo) and Gunite are very similar in that they just took the job and linked up. They are very strong horses – great crossbreeds for Winchell (Purebred). I’m very lucky to have them.”
MCCROSKEY: Gunite wins Perryville, may return in Breeders ‘Cup
Raised in Kentucky, Wicked Halo is the second pony of the Tapit mare Just Wicked, who won the 2015 Adirondack Stakes (G2) for Winchell and Asmussen. She is a full sister of class 2 shares eating My Miss Lilly and gave birth to two full siblings for Wicked Halo, an unrated 2-year-old pony named Evil again and a hot guy who sold last month for $1 million to dealer Richard Knight from Gainesway’s shipment to Keeneland September Yearling Sale. The yearling was her last reported pony; it was bred back to Gun Runner in 2023.
(LR): Scott Blasi leads Wicked Halo and Tyler Gaffalione into the winners’ circle with Ron Winchell
Video: Lexus Raven Run S. (G2)
