Halo Again Conquers Queenston

TORONTO, ON – Returning to face fellow Canadian-breds proved the perfect tonic for Halo Again, who took over in deep stretch before winning Saturday’s $125,000 Queenston Stakes at Woodbine.

The 6/5 favorite in the field of nine, Halo Again and jockey Rafael Hernandez closely tracked early leaders Golden Wave and Ennis the Menace through opening fractions of :23.35 and :46.29.

Sent three-wide in the far turn, Halo Again straightened for home within a length of Golden Wave, who dug deep and refused to yield without a fight.

Taking over command just outside the 1 1/16 pole, Halo Again steadily pulled ahead before winning by 1 1/4 lengths. The Steve Asmussen trainee completed the 7-furlong fast synthetic sprint in a final time of 1:23.63.

“The main thing was putting him in a good position,” Hernandez said. “It was clear all the way. We’ve got a long backstretch, so he just broke good, kept him comfortable, clear and he did the rest. Turning for home, he switched leads. He’s a big horse, he’s got a nice heart, good stride. He does everything good.”

Golden Wave was 3 1/4 lengths clear of Glorious Tribute, who edged See Forever by a neck for third. Dotted Line, Tecumseh’s War, Deviant, Perfect Revenge, and Ennis the Menace completed the order of finish.

Halo Again’s win was his first since taking last fall’s local Coronation Futurity and improved his overall record to 5-3-0-0 with $204,577 earned for co-owners Winchell Thoroughbreds and Willis Horton Racing. The 3-year-old Speightstown colt finished off the board in both prior 2020 starts, running eighth in the Lecomte Stakes (G3) and fourth in the Jeff Ruby Steaks (G3).

Halo Again returned $4.70 to win, $3.10 to place, and $2.90 to show. Golden Wave brought back $4.50 to place and $3.90 to show, while Glorious Tribute paid $10.40 to show.