Shattered Halo upsets

Shattered Halo, at odds of 8-1, returned from a one-month layoff on Saturday to win the featured $10,000 Open Handicap Pace at Pompano Park in 1:52, although it took tight three-horse photo to determine the outcome.

Guided from post three by Steve Condren, Shattered Halo emerged from a three-horse skirmish with a one-length lead as the pacers moved through an opening quarter mile in :28. As the field moved by the grandstand for the first time, Shattered Halo continued to pace comfortably on the front end as race favorite Eleven AM (Bruce Ranger) was flushed out from fourth by Lislight N (David Ingraham), and quickly began to gain ground on the leader.

Shattered Halo retained his advantage through a half-mile split in :57, but with a rush down the backstretch Eleven AM wrestled the top spot away, leaving Shattered Halo in the pocket as the field moved by the three-quarters marker in 1:24.3.

Eleven AM entered the stretch with a 1 ¼-length advantage over Shattered Halo, who was angled off the pylons by Condren to attack from the outside. Shattered Halo quickly cut away at Eleven AM’s lead, and in the final yards the 6-year-old son of Jenna’s Beach Boy pushed his head in front.

Hesadoozy (Daryl Bier) closed with a rush along the pylons and nearly got to Shattered Halo, but came up a nose shy of victory as the three horses hit the wire together.

Shattered Halo returned $18.40, $7.80, $5 for the win. Hesadoozy brought in $8.40, $3 for second, while Eleven AM paid $2.80 for third.

Saturday’s race was the first outing for Shattered Halo since finishing ninth in the $157,500 Isle of Capri Pacing Series on Feb. 24.It was also his first victory in five starts this year.

Owned by Peninsula Farm and Sam Bowie of Lexington, Ky., Shattered Halo has won 13 of 52 starts throughout his career, and his victory in the Saturday feature at Pompano pushed his lifetime earnings mark to $223,759.

Saturday evening’s third-race pace at Pompano Park went to Bronson Hall, a 7-year-old son of Cambest who has visited the winner’s circle on three straight occasions, including four of his last five.

Despite that recent string of success, the Tom Harmer trainee has continued to offer fair value at the betting windows, and has returned double-digit payouts in each of his victories this year, including a winning mutuel of $19 on Saturday.

Bronson Hall’s highest payout in his quartet of victories at Pompano this year came on Feb. 10 when the gelding returned $65 on a $2 win bet. He has since prevailed in a March 3 winners-over pace where he paid $22.40 along with a March 10 victory at the same level where he brought in $21. (Pompano Park)

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