Thoroughbred Club of America a pivotal race for Wicked Halo
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LEXINGTON, Ky. – The seven-time stakes-winning millionaire Wicked Halo has been incredibly consistent throughout her career, and her accomplishments loom large as she comes to the Grade 2, $350,000 Thoroughbred Club of America Stakes on Saturday at Keeneland. However, she was the beaten favorite last time out and will have to rebound against some of the same foes, including the upwardly mobile Yuugiri.
The Thoroughbred Club of America, which has a field of seven, is a “Win and You’re In” for the Breeders’ Cup Filly and Mare Sprint on Nov. 4 at Santa Anita.
Wicked Halo was favored last month in the Open Mind at Churchill Downs for trainer Steve Asmussen, but was a bit farther back than usual early and made a one-paced run to finish third, beaten 8 3/4 lengths by Yuugiri and 5 3/4 lengths by runner-up Fire On Time.
Wicked Halo, who has drawn the rail and retains the services of the hot-riding Tyler Gaffalione, relishes the Keeneland track. Last October, she won the Grade 2 Raven Run here by four lengths. Two weeks later, she was a creditable third at Keeneland in the Breeders’ Cup Filly and Mare Sprint, beaten 3 1/2 lengths by divisional champion Goodnight Olive, with her stablemate Echo Zulu finishing a length ahead of her in second.
Wicked Halo has continued to face the best of the division this year, as she was second in the Grade 1 Derby City Distaff to Breeders’ Cup-bound Matareya, with Goodnight Olive in third. She also was second by a neck to Goodnight Olive in the Grade 2 Bed o’ Roses in New York. A win Saturday would keep her firmly in the divisional mix.
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Yuugiri won the Grade 3 Fantasy in 2022 at Oaklawn Park before being well beaten in the Kentucky Oaks. She has reinvented herself as a solid sprinter for Rodolphe Brisset. With three stakes wins this year, a win Saturday could earn her a trip to California.
Yuugiri has shown the versatility to adjust to circumstances. Although she led throughout in some of her wins this campaign, she sat off the hot pace of Fire On Time in the Open Mind before coming with a rush to win by three lengths. Yuugiri, with Flavien Prat in the irons, is well drawn in post 6 in this field of seven, with only later-running longshot Be Like Water outside her.
Fire On Time is likely to again show the way from post 2 under Martin Garcia. The multiple graded stakes-placed mare is still seeking a breakthough win after tangling with some divisional standouts this season for Dale Romans.
Static Fire is likely to give Fire On Time a challenge on the front end. She is coming off a front-running allowance/optional-claiming win at Kentucky Downs with a Beyer Speed Figure of 90, the best last-out number in this field.
Static Fire is moving from turf back to dirt for Brian Lynch. She has won both her dirt outings in allowance-level company, including a race at Keeneland last fall.
The pace-pressing Happy Soul was third behind Static Fire last out for Wesley Ward. She is moving back to dirt, on which she was a multiple stakes winner early in her career. She was second in last year’s edition of the TCA.
Last Leaf, second in an allowance on the Kentucky Downs turf last out, was third in the Winning Colors and Twin Bridges. She is cross-entered in the Grade 3 Princess Rooney on Saturday at Gulfstream Park for Eddie Kenneally.
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