Lighthouse Bay, a 2-year-old daughter of Speightstown, got up jut in time to win the $100,000 Smart Halo S. at Laurel Park Saturday afternoon. Speightstown now has 20 stakes winners in 2012, second-most of all North American stallions. His progeny have earned $8.85 million, one of only three sires to surpass the $8 million mark this year.
Lighthouse Bay’s jockey Kendrick Carmouche was content on sitting behind frontrunners Baby J and Jax and Jill before gaining the lead in upper stretch. In mid-stretch Ek Haseena challenged Lighthouse Bay and the two bumped and brushed several times in the final furlong before the winner put a nose in front at the wire.
“The race set up well for us. It was a good scenario that Baby J went with Jax and Jill,” Carmouche said. “On paper the first five fillies on the program looked like the best runners in the race but the filly who ran second was game.”
“We came together but every time I was able to straightened her back up,” added Carmouche. “We bumped a couple times but I thought it was 50-50 situation and the stewards probably saw the same thing, which is why they left it official.”
The winner, who is trained by George Weaver, completed the 6-furlong distance in 1:12.11. Lighthouse Bay is owned by her breeder Richlyn Stables and is 2-1-0 in three starts with earnings of $116,800.
