Hernandez guides Skywire, Halo Again to stakes victories

ETOBICOKE, Ontario - The Mark Casse-trained Skywire, the troubled favorite in last year’s Queen’s Plate, gave jockey Rafael Hernandez a sweep of Saturday’s stakes at Woodbine in the Grade 2 Eclipse.

Skywire ($36.10) saved ground some five lengths off the lead in sixth on the backstretch, as 3-5 favorite Mr Ritz pressed Uncle Bull through a slow opening quarter and a fast second quarter in the 1 1/16-mile race.

Skywire followed Avie’s Flatter on the far turn. Avie’s Flatter opened up a clear lead in the stretch, but Skywire mowed him down. Skywire scored by 1 1/4 lengths in 1:44.12.

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Mr Ritz held third, and was followed by Journeyman, Uncle Bull, Solidify, and Cooler Mike.

“We got a good pace,” said Hernandez, who won four races on the card. “Two horses went to the lead. I tracked [Avie’s Flatter] all the way. It set up perfect. As soon as I put him in the clear, he turned it on and just kept going.”

A son of Afleet Alex, Skywire banked $126,000 of the $203,350 purse for owners Gary Barber and Lou Tucci.

Halo Again ($4.70) wore down pacesetter Golden Wave under Hernandez to take Saturday’s $125,400 Queenston Stakes, a prep for the Sept. 12 Queen’s Plate.

Golden Wave hooked up with stablemate Ennis the Menace through a slow early tempo in the seven-furlong sprint, while Halo Again stalked them from a three-wide position.

Golden Wave took control entering the stretch, with Halo Again breathing down his neck, and Halo Again prevailed by 1 1/4 lengths in 1:23.63.

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Glorious Tribute wound up third and See Forever checked in fourth in the nine-horse field of Canadian-bred 3-year-olds.

Hernandez also rode Halo Again to victory in the nine-furlong Coronation Futurity here in November for trainer Steve Asmussen.

“The main thing was to put him in a good position,” Hernandez said. “He was clear all the way. He did everything good. He’s doing better. His mind is growing. He relaxed better. He showed up today.”

A son of Speightstown based in Kentucky, Halo Again earned $75,000 for Winchell Thoroughbreds and Willis Horton Racing.