TORONTO, November 23, 2019 – Undefeated two-year-old colt Halo Again captured the 116th running of the $225,000 Coronation Futurity for Canadian-foaled two-year-olds on Saturday at Woodbine Racetrack. The Coronation Futurity, contested over 1-1/8 miles on the Tapeta, is considered a stepping-stone to Canada’s most famous race, the Queen’s Plate. The first jewel of the Canadian Triple Crown of Thoroughbred Racing is set for Saturday, June 27, 2020 at Woodbine. Halo Again and jockey Rafael Hernandez winning the $225,000 Coronation Futurity on Saturday, Nov. 23 at Woodbine Racetrack. (Michael Burns Photo) Trained by Steve Asmussen, Halo Again arrived at Woodbine after making a victorious seven-furlong debut at Churchill Downs on October 27. With Rafael Hernandez aboard for the Coronation Futurity, Halo Again raced along the rail behind pacesetter Green Growth with Tomcat Black tracking most of the way through panels of :25.29, :50.15 and 1:14.76. Despite losing position in the final turn, Halo Again re-rallied down the stretch and shot through late to score the victory. He prevailed in 1:51.82 by a head over Malibu Mambo, who closed from last on the far outside into the win photo. Finishing in between the top pair, favourite Muskoka Gold closed within three-quarters of a length while Green Growth was a close fourth. Tomcat Black finished fifth with Northern Thunder, Pleasecallmeback and Kunal completing the field. “The first time on the Tapeta and under the night lights, he gave me a hard time but he’s a nice horse,” said Hernandez, who recorded his fourth win of the day. Bred in Ontario by Anderson Farms, the Speightstown-Halo’s Verse colt was a $600,000 yearling purchase at the Keeneland sale by Winchell Thoroughbreds LLC and Willis Horton Racing LLC. He is a half-brother to multiple graded stakes placed mare Inflexibility, who won the 2017 Canadian Triple Tiara’s Wonder Where Stakes as well as the Carotene Stakes at Woodbine. Halo Again paid $8.70 to win as the 3-1 second choice. Live Thoroughbred racing resumes at Woodbine on Sunday afternoon, featuring the Grade 2 Bessarabian Stakes. Post time for the first race is 1:05 p.m. Share This:Share
