Brooke’s Halo Glows in Oaks

Five of the eight 3-year-old fillies, including the top two betting choices, who competed in the $177,500 Hollywood Breeders’ Cup Oaks on Sunday at Hollywood Park were bred in California.

This meant the state had a golden chance to have the winner of the Grade II for a second consecutive year. House Of Fortune won by three lengths as the favorite in 2004.

No such luck. Brooke’s Halo, a Florida-bred who began her career winning by daylight at Calder Race Course in Miami, was the star of the Oaks, leading throughout at nearly 8-1.

Trained by Jeff Mullins and owned by Michael House, who purchased her privately after her six-length debut win in the slop Nov. 25, Brooke’s Halo was hustled to the lead by jockey Victor Espinoza, set fast fractions (22.75, 45.79 and 1:10.14 for six furlongs) and kept going all the way to the wire. In beating 2-1 second choice Memorette by a length, she ran the 1 1/16 miles in 1:42.80 in her first start around two turns.

This was the third win in six lifetime races for Brooke’s Halo, who just missed another victory earlier in the meet. In the 5 1/2 -furlong Manhattan Beach on May 29, she was beaten by a nose by longshot Kresgeville in her initial start on turf.

“I told Jeff after her last race that she was ready to go long,” Espinoza said.

Remaining winless in seven races beyond seven furlongs, Memorette finished a half-length in front of Cee’s Irish, then came 3-2 favorite Leave Me Alone, Gn. Group Meeting, Lady Bertrando, Silver Dawn and Charismatic Heart, who had to be pulled up on the backside by jockey Corey Nakatani. The 12-1 shot was vanned off the track after injuring a tendon in her left foreleg.

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Sensibly Chic, the 5-2 favorite, easily won the $150,000 Vagrancy Handicap on Sunday at Belmont Park.

John Velazquez rode the 5-year-old Distorted Humor mare for owner Lois Nervitt and trainer Tim Tullock, and she ran the 6 1/2 furlongs in the Grade II in 1:16.31. Bank Audit, the 5-2 second choice, was second, and 16-1 shot Ender’s Sister was third.