Halo America Just Won’t Quit, Wins Apple Blossom

What was supposed to be the last race of Halo America’s career turned out to be her best.

Never worse than second in seven previous starts at Oaklawn Park, the 7-year-old Waquoit mare won for the fifth time over the Hot Springs (Ark.) track, easily defeating 1996 Eclipse champion Jewel Princess and six other fillies and mares in Friday’s $500,000 Apple Blossom Handicap.

Trained by Bobby Barnett for owner John Franks and ridden by Calvin Borel, the 5-1 shot, who raced coupled with Gold N Delicious, went right to the front and kept on going, winning by four lengths in 1:41 3/5 for the 1 1/16 miles over a track labeled good.

Second in the Apple Blossom behind Twice The Vice last year and Heavenly Prize in 1995, Halo America has 14 victories in 39 races and earnings of more than $1.3 million.

Barnett hinted afterward it is possible Franks may decide to run her again.

“She was so sharp today,” Borel said. “It was unbelievable. By the middle of the turn, I was grinning from ear to ear. From that point on, all I had to do was make sure I didn’t fall off.”

Jewel Princess, who had won her three previous races, carried 124 pounds, seven more than the winner and beat Different, the 2-1 second choice for the place.

Santa Anita Notes

Besides the $500,000 Wood Memorial, which will be simulcast between today’s third and fourth races, Santa Anita will offer betting on the $500,000 Arkansas Derby from Oaklawn Park between the fourth and fifth races and the $700,000 Blue Grass Stakes from Keeneland between the fifth and sixth. . . . Jockey Joy Scott was suspended for five days, beginning Friday, for being disqualified and dropped from second to 10th on He’s Wonderful Too in the eighth race April 3. . . . Red is the 7-5 favorite against four other 3-year-olds in today’s feature, the $100,000 San Pedro Stakes at 6 1/2 furlongs.