Halo Tyra wins Palo Alto

SAN MATEO, Calif. - Halo Tyra ($7.60) sat behind pacesetter A B Noodle and pulled away in the lane to win the $60,650 Palo Alto Handicap at Bay Meadows.

A B Noodle didn't break sharply but quickly assumed command on the rail, running the opening quarter in 22.08 seconds in the one-mile race for 3-year-old fillies. She settled nicely after getting the lead but couldn't withstand Halo Tyra's closing kick. Halo Tyra earned her second stakes victory by one length in 1:35.13.

"I'm so pleased with this filly," trainer Chuck Peery said. "She's done everything we've asked of her up to the race.

"And we got a Hall of Fame ride from our Hall of Fame rider (Russell Baze) when he let A B Noodle go. She got a little hot and went to fast early, and that played in our favor."

Peery gave his filly a three-month break after she finished third behind Irguns Angel and Channing Way in the Sunnyvale Handicap on June2. She was fifth in the CERF Handicap at Del Mar on Sept. 11 in her comeback, not handling the trip south well according to Peery.

Halo Tyra earned $33,650 to lift her career earnings to $123,044 with four wins in nine starts.