Halo Again fought off Pixelate in the Dec. 26 Buddy Diliberto Memorial S. at Fair Grounds to give the 4-year-old son of Speightstown his third stakes win and fourth overall victory from 10 career starts (WATCH RACE).
Halo Again is Speightstown’s 14th stakes winner of the year, joining the likes of Grade 1 winners Lexitonian and Flagstaff and the regally-bred Lady Speightspeare.
Halo Again was unhurried out of the gate, but nonetheless was head-to-head for the lead with Forty Under going into the first turn. On to the backstretch, Halo Again edged clear by a length before Forty Under came alongside again with a half-mile to run.
The two were inseparable until the furlong marker, when Halo Again forged to the lead. Pixelate closed late but could get no closer than a half-length on the wire. Halo Again covered the 1 1/16-miles on the firm turf in 1:43.22.
Bred in Canada by Anderson Farms Ont. Inc., Halo Again is out of Halo’s Verse and is a half-brother to multiple stakes winner Inflexibility and stakes placed Fundamental. The winner’s second dam, Ballado’s Halo, is a full-sister to two-time champion distaffer Ashado.
Halo Again is owned by Winchell Thoroughbreds and Willis Horton Racing LLC. The former purchased Halo Again for $600,000 out of the 2018 Keeneland September Yearling sale.
