Echo Zulu

Echo Zulu was a bay filly who was bred in Kentucky by Betz, J. Betz, Burns, CHNNHK, Magers, CoCo Equine, and Ramsby. She was from the first crop of her sire Gun Runner, who was the 2017 American Horse of the Year and winner of the 2017 Breeders' Cup Classic. Echo Zulu was the eleventh foal of racing age out of the stakes-winning mare Letgomyecho, who had previously produced Grade 1 winner Echo Town. She was sold at the 2020 Keeneland Yearling Sale for $300,000 to Winchell Thoroughbreds (which had owned Gun Runner during his racing career) and L and N Racing, which consisted of Lee Levinson, his sons Andy and Michael, and friend Don Nelson. She is trained by Steve Asmussen, who had also trained Gun Runner.{{cite web |title=Echo Zulu Lives Up to Short Odds in Spinaway - TrueNicks.com |url=https://www.truenicks.com/articles/252955/echo-zulu-lives-up-to-short-odds-in-spinaway |website=www.truenicks.com |access-date=6 November 2021}}

Echo Zulu made her first start on July 15, 2021, in a maiden special weight race at Saratoga Racecourse. She pressed a fast early pace set by Lady Scarlet, then took the lead at the top of the stretch. She continued to draw away to win by {{frac|5|1|2}} lengths. She was named a TDN Rising Star by Thoroughbred Daily News.{{cite web |title=TDN Rising Stars - Writeup Page |url=https://www.thoroughbreddailynews.com/tdn-rising-stars/?hid=656219 |website=TDN {{!}} Thoroughbred Daily News |access-date=6 November 2021 |language=en}}{{cite web |title=Chart for July 15, 2021 at Saratoga |url=https://www.equibase.com/premium/chartEmb.cfm?track=SAR&raceDate=07/15/2021&cy=USA&rn=5 |website=Equibase |access-date=6 November 2021}}

In her second race, Echo Zulu stepped sharply up in class for the Grade 1 Spinaway Stakes on September 5 at Saratoga. She broke poorly but quickly went to the lead, running the opening quarter-mile in 22.07 seconds and the half in 44.73. She started to draw away turning into the stretch and won by {{frac|4|1|2}} lengths, becoming the first Grade 1 winner for Gun Runner.

On October 3, Echo Zulu maintained her undefeated record in the Frizette Stakes at Belmont Park. She took the early lead while setting moderately fast fractions, then pulled away in the stretch to win by seven lengths. Asmussen said that he had been worried. "I watched the race from up the stretch, a long ways across to the backside — (and they went) :22 and 1, :45 and change," he said. "But the first thing (jockey Ricardo Santana Jr.) said when he came back was that he couldn't believe how relaxed she was. He said her ears were up and she was relaxed and within herself."{{cite web |title=Echo Zulu dominates Frizette |url=https://www.bloodhorse.com/horse-racing/articles/253812/echo-zulu-dominates-frizette-to-remain-undefeated |website=BloodHorse.com |access-date=6 November 2021}}

Echo Zulu shipped to California for her final start of the season in the Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies on November 5 at Del Mar Racetrack. Asmussen decided to change jockeys to Joel Rosario but the tactics remained the same. Echo Zulu went to the early lead and set moderate fractions, then responded to a brief challenge by pulling away down the stretch to win by {{frac|4|1|2}} lengths. "She is amazing", said Rosario. "Today she liked what she was doing up there (in the lead) and when I asked her, she just took off."{{cite web |title=Echo Zulu Obliterates Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies Field |url=https://www.paulickreport.com/news/breeders-cup/echo-zulu-obliterates-breeders-cup-juvenile-fillies-field/ |website=Paulick Report |access-date=6 November 2021 |language=en |date=5 November 2021}}

Echo Zulu was stabled at Fair Grounds Racecourse to prepare for her 2022 campaign. Her trainer Asmussen had two previous Kentucky Oaks winners Summerly and Untappable also wintered at Fair Grounds.

She made her first start as a three-year-old in the Grade II Fair Grounds Oaks which she won by a nose over Hidden Connection. Starting as the very short 1/10 odds-on favorite Echo Zulu bounced out in front and led by a length through the race and barely held on to game Hidden Connection who tried to overtake her on the line.

The 2022 Kentucky Oaks, held on May 6, attracted 'arguably the best field ever' for the race according to The Thoroughbred Daily News'. In addition to Secret Oath, the field featured Nest (Ashland Stakes), two-year-old champion Echo Zulu, Kathleen O (Gulfstream Park Oaks), with several well-regarded longshots like Nostalgic (Gazelle Stakes) and Desert Dawn (Santa Anita Oaks).{{cite web |title=Storming Into the Oaks |url=https://www.thoroughbreddailynews.com/storming-into-the-oaks/ |website=TDN {{!}} Thoroughbred Daily News |access-date=7 May 2022 |language=en |date=5 May 2022}} Breaking from post position seven, Echo Zulu pressed on the outside of early leader Yuugirl. In the straight Echo Zulu was in the three path into the lane, made a bid down the lane but weakened late in the drive finishing three lengths behind winner Secret Oath.{{cite web |last1=Rollins |first1=Molly |title=Secret Oath gives Lukas fifth Kentucky Oaks win |url=https://www.bloodhorse.com/horse-racing/articles/258629/secret-oath-gives-lukas-fifth-kentucky-oaks-win |website=BloodHorse.com |access-date=7 May 2022}} After her defeat connections including trainer Steve Asmussen and David Fiske, racing manager for Winchell Thoroughbreds indicated that Echo Zulu would be pointed to the one-turn mile Grade I Acorn Stakes Belmont Park and would point to sprint races.{{cite web |last1=Ehalt |first1=Bob |title=Echo Zulu Targets Acorn; Likely to Focus on Sprints Champion 2-year-old filly suffered her first loss when fourth in Kentucky Oaks (G1). |url=https://www.bloodhorse.com/horse-racing/articles/258725/echo-zulu-targets-acorn-likely-to-focus-on-sprints |website=Bloodhorse.com |access-date=23 May 2022 |date=9 May 2022}}

Echo Zulu was entered to run in the Grade I Acorn Stakes on 11 June but was scratched at the starting gate on veterinarian advice.{{cite web |last1=Ehalt |first1=Bob |title=Clairiere Lands Ogden Phipps Over Malathaat; Stonestreet Stables' homebred Curlin filly earned her second grade 1 score June 11. |url=https://www.bloodhorse.com/horse-racing/articles/259500/clairiere-lands-ogden-phipps-over-malathaat |website=bloodhorse.com |access-date=12 June 2022 |date=12 June 2022}} She was rested until September and returned in the 7-furlong Dogwood Stakes at Churchill Downs against four other fillies, which she won on the lead by {{frac|5|1|4}} lengths.{{cite web |last1=King |first1=Byron |last2=Rollins |first2=Molly|title=Champion Echo Zulu Returns Triumphant in Dogwood|url=https://www.bloodhorse.com/horse-racing/articles/263437/champion-echo-zulu-returns-triumphant-in-dogwood |website=bloodhorse.com |access-date=20 February 2024|date=24 September 2022|publisher=The BloodHorse}}

Echo Zulu was then sent to that year's Breeders' Cup Filly & Mare Sprint at Keeneland. Racing off the pace, she circled the field six wide on the final turn and was second best behind the Chad Brown-trained Goodnight Olive.

After an extended layoff, on May 29 Echo Zulu returned to face four other fillies in the Grade III Winning Colors Stakes at Churchill Downs over six furlongs. Echo Zulu lead quickly from the gate running the opening quarter under a loose hold from Florent Geroux in :21.75 while Fire On Time pressed the pace in second. At the top of the stretch in :44.62, Martin Garcia urged Fire On Time to put a neck in front but the small lead disappeared quickly when Echo Zulu forged ahead away down the lane in :56.41. Echo Zulu finished the event {{frac|5|3|4}} lengths in front for a final time of 1:08.99.{{cite web |last1=McCroskey |first1= Corrie |title=Echo Zulu Easy Breezy in Winning Colors on 2023 Debut; The talented filly proved a layoff was no problem for her May 29 at Churchill Downs. |url=https://www.bloodhorse.com/horse-racing/articles/268999/echo-zulu-easy-breezy-in-winning-colors-on-2023-debut |website=bloodhorse.com |access-date=30 May 2023 |date=29 May 2023}}

Echo Zulu was then shipped to Saratoga for the first time since her two-year-old season to compete in graded sprint races for females. She easily defeated three others by {{frac|7|1|4}} lengths in the July 26 Honorable Miss at 6 furlongs.{{cite web |url=https://www.bloodhorse.com/horse-racing/articles/270471/echo-zulu-dominates-honorable-miss-at-saratoga|title=Echo Zulu Dominates Honorable Miss at Saratoga|last=Wilkin|first=Tim|date=26 July 2023|publisher=The BloodHorse|access-date=19 February 2024}} The following month, in what would turn out to be her final race, Echo Zulu contested the 7-furlong Ballerina Handicap against the 2022 Breeders' Cup Filly & Mare Sprint winner Goodnight Olive. Echo Zulu took the lead from the start and repelled the challenge of the Breeders' Cup champion, winning the Ballerina by {{frac|2|1|2}} lengths.{{cite web |url=https://www.bloodhorse.com/horse-racing/articles/271346/echo-zulu-takes-battle-of-champions-in-ballerina|title=Echo Zulu Takes Battle of Champions in Ballerina|last=King|first=Byron|date=26 August 2023|publisher=The BloodHorse|access-date=19 February 2024}}

Echo Zulu's win in the Ballerina gave her an automatic entry into that year's Breeders' Cup Filly and Mare Sprint at Santa Anita. In October 2023, while preparing for the Breeders' Cup, she suffered a sesamoid fracture of her left front fetlock.{{cite web |last1=King |first1= Byron |title=Echo Zulu Fractures Left Front Fetlock; Surgery Planned; Surgery is scheduled Oct. 14, trainer Steve Asmussen said. |url=https://www.bloodhorse.com/horse-racing/articles/272583/echo-zulu-fractures-left-front-fetlock-surgery-planned |website=bloodhorse.com |access-date=14 October 2023 |date=13 October 2023}} She underwent successful surgery, and recuperated at the Chino Valley Equine Hospital in Chino Hills, California.

Echo Zulu was euthanized on February 18, 2024, after an accident in her stall resulted in a leg injury. Steve Asmussen announced her death the following day, saying that she had become cast in her stall and was injured when she attempted to rise to her feet.

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Notes:

An (*) asterisk after the odds means Echo Zulu was the post-time favourite.

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{{Pedigree

|name = Echo Zulu (bay filly, April 7, 2019)

|f = Gun Runner
2013

|m = Letgomyecho
2002

|ff =Candy Ride (ARG)

|fm = Quiet Giant

|mf = Menifee

|mm = Echo Echo Echo

|fff = Ride the Rails

|ffm = Candy Girl (ARG)

|fmf = Giant's Causeway

|fmm = Quiet Dance

|mff = Harlan

|mfm = Anne Campbell

|mmf = Eastern Echo

|mmm = Kashie West

|ffff = Cryptoclearance

|fffm = Herbalesian

|ffmf = Candy Stripes

|ffmm = City Girl (ARG)

|fmff = Storm Cat

|fmfm = Mariah's Storm

|fmmf = Quiet American

|fmmm = Misty Dancer

|mfff = Storm Cat

|mffm = Country Romance (CAN)

|mfmf = Never Bend

|mfmm = Repercussion

|mmff =Damascus

|mmfm =Wild Applause

|mmmf = Sir Ivor

|mmmm = Tatallah (family 16-g){{cite web |title=Thoroughbred Bloodlines - Polly Agnes - Family 16-g |url=https://www.bloodlines.net/TB/Families/Family16g.htm |website=www.bloodlines.net |access-date=6 November 2021}}

}}

Echo Zulu is inbred 4s × 4d to Storm Cat.

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Category:2019 racehorse births

Category:Racehorses bred in Kentucky

Category:Racehorses trained in the United States

Category:Thoroughbred family 16-g

Category:Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies winners

Category:American Grade 1 Stakes winners

Category:2024 racehorse deaths

Category:Horses who died from racing injuries