Halo Again by a head in Coronation Futurity

ETOBICOKE, Ontario – Kentucky-based Halo Again made quite a splash in his Woodbine debut Saturday, winning the $225,000 Coronation Futurity under a ground-saving ride from Rafael Hernandez.

Green Growth set slow fractions on an uncontested lead in the nine-furlong test for 2-year-olds while being tracked by Tomcat Black and Halo Again.

Halo Again ($8.70) appeared out of it when he dropped back from third to fifth on the far turn, before kicking in strongly through the stretch to prevail by a head in a time of 1:51.82.

Malibu Mambo and the favored Muskoka Gold both took the long way around from the back of the pack. Malibu Mambo outfinished Muskoka Gold for second, as Green Growth faded to fourth in the eight-horse field of Canadian-breds.

After graduating at first asking on the dirt at Churchill Oct. 26, Halo Again was making his first synthetic track start in the 116th running of the Coronation. Hernandez said the colt overcame some greenness to get the job done.

“The first time on the Tapeta, and [under] the lights, he gave me a hard time, but he’s a nice horse,” said Hernandez, who won four races on the card.

A $600,000 yearling purchase, Halo Again earned $135,000 for the partnership of Winchell Thoroughbreds and Willis Horton Racing. Steve Asmussen trains the son of Speightstown, who was bred by Anderson Farms Ontario Inc.