Yuugiri wins head bob over Wicked Halo in Thoroughbred Club of America Stakes
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LEXINGTON, Ky. – In a thrilling tilt, Yuugiri, who has been upwardly mobile this season, firmly established herself in the female sprint division by coming back on the inside to nose out Wicked Halo in the Grade 2, $350,000 Thoroughbred Club of America Stakes on Saturday at Keeneland.
The race was a Win and You're In event toward the Breeders' Cup Filly and Mare Sprint on Nov. 4 at Santa Anita.
"We all carried her to the wire, but she did the big lifting," said trainer Rodolphe Brisset, who would be saddling his first Breeders' Cup starter. "She's got a big heart, and she's always sharp for us. Maybe we'll make some flying plans."
Wicked Halo, a millionaire multiple graded stakes winner, was getting a rematch with Yuugiri after finishing an uncharacteristically one-paced and well-beaten third to that one in the Open Mind Stakes on Sept. 16 at Churchill Downs. This time, Wicked Halo was on the bridle from the outset, and Tyler Gaffalione worked her off the rail around the far turn for clear sailing.
Meanwhile, Yuugiri had essentially done the opposite, as she got a ground-saving trip after breaking from post 6 in the field of seven under Flavien Prat. She was only in the two path as she pressed leader Happy Soul through the opening quarter of 22.12 seconds and assumed command through the half in 45.48.
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Wicked Halo was rolling into the stretch and came up on the outside of Yuugiri to collar her, inching in front by a head in the stretch. But Yuugiri refused to quit, digging in on the inside and wresting those inches back. The two hit the wire together in the photo.
"She was really game today," Prat said. "When Wicked Halo went by us and took the lead, it felt like [Yuugiri] wasn’t done yet and was just getting going. So I just kept pedaling and she was very game and brave."
Yuugiri and Wicked Halo stopped the clock in 1:10.44 for the six furlongs on the fast track, earning a Beyer Speed Figure of 92.
Trainer Steve Asmussen was happy to see Wicked Halo back in good form after she lacked some sharpness last out.
"Rather be on the other end of the photo, but this mare has always been so honest for us," he said. "She ran another extremely competitive race. . . . She deserved [a mulligan last out], as many good, hard races as she's had, as many good races as she runs, so she took one off. It's great to see her back and being competitive. Just an unfortunate head bob."
While Yuugiri is headed on to California, immediate Breeders' Cup plans were up in the air for Wicked Halo, as owner Winchell Thoroughbreds also campaigns champion Echo Zulu, a prominent candidate for either the Filly and Mare Sprint or the Sprint. Asmussen said he and owner Ron Winchell and racing manager David Fiske would discuss plans.
Meanwhile, after the top two in Saturday's head bob, it was five lengths back to Last Leaf in third. Fire On Time, Happy Soul, Static Fire, and Be Like Water rounded out the order of finish.
Yuugiri won the Grade 3 Fantasy Stakes going 1 1/16 miles in April 2022 at Oaklawn, but then was 13th after being on the engine in the Kentucky Oaks. Brisset, who trains the homebred daughter of Shackleford for Mr. and Mrs. Tsunebumi Yoshihara, then shortened her up. She owns wins this year in the Carousel Stakes at Oaklawn, the Saylorville Stakes at Prairie Meadows, the Open Mind, and now, the TCA, which pushed her over $1 million in career earnings. Her only blips this season have been a fifth-place finish in the Grade 1 Madison at Keeneland and a pair of forays onto other surfaces.
"The Madison, I'll be honest, I don't know," Brisset said. "The turf race, blame the trainer. The Tapeta race, blame the trainer. Other than that, she's 4 for 4 on the dirt” in sprints.
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