Wicked Halo has no trouble with Dream Supreme

Wicked Halo went to post an odds-on favorite in the $300,000 Dream Supreme Stakes because she was the best, most accomplished horse in the race. Wicked Halo hardly needed any help, but she got a perfect trip under Tyler Gaffalione and won the Dream Supreme by two lengths on Saturday at Churchill Downs.

Little Prankster, the strong second choice, finished second, 2 3/4 lengths in front of Last Leaf, who pushed past pacesetting Your So Sillea to earn the show. Wicked Halo, off sprints of 21.61 and 44.75, was timed in 1:09.97 for six furlongs over a fast track and paid $3.66.

Wicked Halo finished a fine third in the 2022 Breeders’ Cup Filly and Mare Sprint but failed to punch her ticket to that race this year after coughing up a lead in the final 50 yards of the Thoroughbred Club of America Stakes last month at Keeneland. Wicked Halo had passed Yuugiri in upper stretch and was on her way to victory – until she wasn’t. Yuugiri came back on her, handing Wicked Halo a tough defeat, but one that gained luster when Yuugiri returned to finish second in the BC Filly and Mare Sprint.

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In Saturday’s contest, Gaffalione let Wicked Halo drift back to fifth in the early stages before commencing a steady rally around the turn. Wicked Halo came up the rail into the homestretch, not a straw in her path, and had miles of room to come around a tiring Your So Sillea and put the Dream Supreme to bed.

Trained by Steve Asmusssen for her breeder, Winchell Thoroughbreds, Wicked Halo is a 4-year-old by Gun Runner out of Just Wicked, by Tapit. She won for the ninth time in 18 starts – a good horse getting a very good trip.

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