LAUREL, MD. 11-03-12---Lighthouse Bay sat off the dueling leaders and then edged a 64-1 shot by a nose to win the $100,000 Smart Halo Stakes for 2-year-old fillies at Laurel Park Saturday afternoon.

Jockey Kendrick Carmouche was content on sitting behind front runners Baby J and Jax and Jill before gaining the lead in upper stretch. By midstretch Laurel Park-based Ek Haseena challenged Lighthouse Bay and the two bumped and brushed several times in the final furlong before the winner put a nose in front at the wire.

“The race set up well for us. It was a good scenario that Baby J went with Jax and Jill,” Carmouche said. “On paper the first five fillies on the program (Baby J, Jax and Jill, Flattering Bea, Forest Diva and Lighthouse Bay) looked like the best runners in the race but the filly who ran second was game.”

Ek Haseena’s jockey Kevin Navarro filed an objection that was not allowed by the stewards.

“We came together but every time I was able to straightened her back up,” added Carmouche. “We bumped a couple times but I thought it was 50-50 situation and the stewards probably saw the same thing, which is why they left it official.”

The winner, who is trained by George Weaver, paid $6.60 as the second betting choice and topped a $232.60 exacta.

The daughter of Speightstown completed the 6-furlong distance in 1:12.11.

Jax and Jill, who came into the race a perfect 4-for-4, finished sixth, beating only 40-1 shot Forest Diva.