Getting down to business early, the champion 2-year-old filly from 2021 and 'TDN Rising Star' Echo Zulu, added the second graded stakes victory of her 4-year-old campaign with a geared-down win in the GII Honorable Miss H. Wednesday afternoon at Saratoga Race Course.
Breaking from the inside post position, the 2-5 favorite rushed out to the early lead and was shadowed by Frank's Rockette through a quarter in :22.02 and a half in :44.45. Echo Zulu waved good bye to that foe at the top of the lane, striding clear with authority and was taken in hand late as she cantered under the wire 7 1/4 lengths in front. Dr B closed to best Frank's Rockette for second.
“She's able to go very [fast],” said winning jockey Florent Geroux. “She's able to set up very fast fractions and stay very nicely within herself. She's able to get a nice breather at the three-eighths and she's just waiting for my cue down the lane. As soon as I push the gas, she responds right away, so automatic. She's just gifted.”
Winning trainer Steve Asmussen added, “I was extremely nervous about just getting away from there [the gate] cleanly. She broke well, very comfortable and very fast. She looked beautiful coming into the stretch. [Her speed] is not new. From her maiden race here, she goes along at a rate that they're not comfortable doing. I think it's that simple: she's extremely fast. She really is. She's doing it quicker than they are, easier than they are in comparison to the other horses.”
Echo Zulu was named champion 2-year-old filly of 2021 after an unbeaten campaign that included victories in the GI Spinaway S., GI Frizette S. and GI Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies. She opened her sophomore season with a win in the GII Fair Grounds Oaks, but suffered her first loss when fourth in the GI Kentucky Oaks. She returned last fall to win the Sept. 24 GIII Dogwood S. and was second behind champion Goodnight Olive (Ghostzapper) in the GI Breeders' Cup F/M Sprint. The talented bay filly returned this year with a powerful 5 3/4-length victory in the May 29 GIII Winning Colors S.
According to Assmusen, the plan is for Echo Zulu to put her perfect three-for-three record at Saratoga on the line in the Aug. 26 GI Ballerina H., a 'Win and You're In' race for the GI Breeders' Cup F/M Sprint.
“Oh, absolutely,” Asmussen said. “That is the target for the summer.”
Wednesday, Saratoga Race Course
HONORABLE MISS H.-GII, $186,000, Saratoga, 7-26,
3yo/up, f/m, 6f, 1:08.76, ft.
1–ECHO ZULU, 123, f, 4, by Gun Runner
1st Dam: Letgomyecho (GSW, $136,200), by Menifee
2nd Dam: Echo Echo Echo, by Eastern Echo
3rd Dam: Kashie West, by Sir Ivor
($300,000 Ylg '20 KEESEP). 'TDN Rising Star'. O-L and N Racing LLC and Winchell Thoroughbreds LLC; B-Betz/J. Betz/Burns/CHNNHK/Magers/CoCo Equine/Ramsby (KY); T-Steven M. Asmussen; J-Florent Geroux. $110,000. Lifetime Record: Ch. 2yo filly, MGISW, 10-8-1-0, $2,365,375. *1/2 to Unbridled Outlaw (Unbridled's Song), GSP, $253,478; 1/2 to J Boys Echo (Mineshaft), GSW, $377,543; 1/2 to Echo Town (Speightstown), GISW, $410,020. Werk Nick Rating: A+++. *Triple Plus* Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree. Click for the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree.
2–Dr B, 119, m, 5, Liam's Map–Boleyn, by Proud Citizen. O-Cash is King LLC and LC Racing LLC; B-Eico Ventures (KY); T-Robert E. Reid, Jr. $40,000.
3–Frank's Rockette, 122, m, 6, Into Mischief–Rocket Twentyone, by Indian Charlie. O/B-Frank Fletcher (KY); T-William I. Mott. $24,000.
Margins: 7 1/4, 2, 2HF. Odds: 0.40, 8.50, 3.40.
Also Ran: Maryquitecontrary.
Click for the Equibase.com chart and the TJCIS.com PPs. VIDEO, sponsored by FanDuel TV.
#1 Echo Zulu romps in the G2 Honorable Miss S. at Saratoga, earning her 7th graded stakes victory! 🏆
The 4-year-old filly is trained by Steve Asmussen, owned by Winchell Thoroughbreds and ridden by @flothejock.
🎥 #TwinSpiresReplay pic.twitter.com/jl9SzOvKL4
— TwinSpires Racing 🏇 (@TwinSpires) July 26, 2023
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