Gun Runner's Wicked Halo Streaks to Raven Run Win

Sent off the lukewarm 5-2 choice, Winchell Thoroughbred's Wicked Halo (Gun Runner) made that price seem like a gift after rolling home an emphatic four-length winner in Saturday's GII Lexus Raven Run S. at Keeneland. Settled in third, Wicked Halo waited as Smash Ticket (Midnight Lute) sprinted to the front and carved out an opening quarter in :22.73 while Freedom Speaks (American Freedom) pressed the issue. Three wide and ready to pounce at any moment following a half in :46.09, Wicked Halo collared the front-running duo while fanned out several paths wide turning for home, bounded clear through the stretch as the early leaders faded and proved much the best while scampering home comfortably ahead of SW Fingal's Cave (Carpe Diem), who closed from well off the pace to edge Midnight Stroll (Not This Time) for the runner-up spot. The victory represented the second stakes win on the card for Winchell, Asmussen and Gun Runner following Gunite's score in the Perryville S.

“It's extremely special,” said Asmussen. “Their level of ability is obvious, but the fact that they thrive with racing and have continued to get better is so rare. I think they are very similar in the fact that they've just accepted their job and continuously gotten faster. Obviously, they're very sound horses–great homebreds for Winchell. I'm very fortunate to have them.”

Showing her talent right out of the box, Wicked Halo went wire-to-wire in her career bow at Lone Star and added a victory in the GII Adirondack S. at the Spa later that summer. Sidelined for the rest of her juvenile season after that, she needed a few starts to get going, finishing third in two of three starts in the first part of 2022 before kicking off a three-race win skein in Churchill's Leslie's Lady S. In June. Stretching to a mile for the Tepin S. July 2, the grey handled that with aplomb and duly followed up with a narrow victory in Saratoga's six-furlong GII Prioress S. Sept. 2.
“She did everything very easily,” added winning rider Tyler Gaffalione, who was also aboard for Gunite's win earlier in the day. “I'm just so thankful I was able to get the opportunity to steer them around there. It was a lot of fun today.”

Pedigree Notes:
Wicked Halo's dam, Just Wicked, also showed early precocity to win the 2015 renewal of the Adirondack. Following Wicked Halo, the half-sister to GSW My Miss Lilly (Tapit) produced a pair of Gun Runners, a colt in 2020 and a filly last term. She was bred back to the hot sire for 2023.

Saturday, Keeneland
LEXUS RAVEN RUN S.-GII, $334,500, Keeneland, 10-22, 3yo, f, 7f, 1:24.30, ft.
1–WICKED HALO, 120, f, 3, by Gun Runner
          1st Dam: Just Wicked (GSW, $208,460), by Tapit
          2nd Dam: Wicked Deed, by Harlan's Holiday
          3rd Dam: Marfa's Squall, by Marfa
O/B-Winchell Thoroughbreds LLC (KY); T-Steven M. Asmussen; J-Tyler Gaffalione. $206,150. Lifetime Record: 10-6-0-3, $780,200. Werk Nick Rating: A+++. *Triple Plus*. Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree or free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree.
2–Fingal's Cave, 120, f, 3, Carpe Diem–Barbie On a Budget, by Mineshaft. 1ST GRADED BLACK TYPE. ($75,000 2yo '21 OBSAPR). O-Alifyfe Racing, LLC; B-Chester & Mary R. Broman (NY); T-David G. Donk. $57,000.
3–Midnight Stroll, 120, f, 3, Not This Time–Midnight Magic, by Midnight Lute. ($14,000 RNA Ylg '20 OBSWIN; $225,000 Ylg '20 OBSOCT). O-Gatsas Stables, R. A. Hill Stable and Steven Schoenfeld; B-Carolin Von Rosenberg (FL); T-John P. Terranova, II. $28,500.
Margins: 4, NK, 3 3/4. Odds: 2.52, 4.46, 5.05.
Also Ran: Freedom Speaks, Last Leaf, Smash Ticket, Colorful Mischief, Republique, Union Lake.
Click for the Equibase.com chart or the TJCIS.com PPshttp://www.equineline.com/tdn/pedigree.cfm?tk=SAR&cy=USA&rd=09/07/2015&rn=9&de=D  &ref=9104432. VIDEO, sponsored by TVG.