Echo Zulu Launches Long-Awaited Comeback in FG Oaks

L & N Racing and Winchell Thoroughbreds' Echo Zulu  capped one of the most brilliant juvenile campaigns seen in quite some time when she sailed home a facile winner of the 2021 NetJets Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies (G1) at Del Mar. By the numbers, her 2-year-old statistics are uncanny—the type of numbers that resemble those of the great Ruffian or the 1990 juvenile filly sensation Meadow Star. Echo Zulu has, remarkably, led at every call, with the exception of the first quarter in her debut performance, in every one of her races. Undefeated, she has captured all four of her starts by a combined 22 lengths.

"She's an unbelievably brilliant filly," trainer Steve Asmussen told BoodHorse's Bob Ehalt. "Four starts and three grade 1s and a championship. That's quite the resume. I've been blessed with some of the greatest horses of all-time and I haven't had anyone who did that in their first four races. She is truly amazing."

The 3-year-old daughter of Gun Runner   resumes her tour de force in the March 26 $400,000 Twinspires Fair Grounds Oaks (G2) at Fair Grounds Race Course & Slots, where she'll face five other others, including graded stakes winners Turnerloose  and Hidden Connection , in the 1 1/16 mile Kentucky Oaks prep.

Given a freshening off her 2021 campaign, Echo Zulu then joined Asmussen's New Orleans winter string at Fair Grounds, where she has since turned in seven consecutive works since Feb. 8. She signaled her readiness with a sharp five-furlong move March 7 over the Fair Grounds oval, clocking 1:00.80 while strongly drawing away from her workmate down the lane.

"We're seeing more of the same that we saw at two. How much better does she need to get?" said Asmussen. "She's matured nicely. From the results at the Breeders' Cup, with how many have come back and how many haven't, it was trying circumstances. We gave those results the respect they deserved and we gave her a break that she deserved. Her works have stepped up considerably over the last three weeks. We think that she's in very good shape going into the race. But it's a whole different ballgame from 2-year-old racing."

With the Longines Kentucky Oaks (G1) less than 7 weeks away, Echo Zulu is currently ranked sixth on the Road to the Oaks leaderboard with 30 points, which were earned from her victories in the Breeders' Cup and Frizette Stakes (G1). The Fair Grounds Oaks, the track's boutique event for 3-year-old fillies, offers Kentucky Oaks points on 100-40-20-10 scale.

Breaking from the inside post, it's highly likely we'll see jockey Joel Rosario hustle Echo Zulu out of the barrier quickly to assume an ideal frontrunning position.

Although Sequist  and Hidden Connection have already faced the champion in the Breeders' Cup, Ike and Dawn Thrash's Turnerloose poses a fresh threat to Echo Zulu in Saturday's race.

The Brad Cox pupil began her career on the turf, winning the rich Aristocrat Juvenile Fillies Stakes at Kentucky Downs and placing in the JP Morgan Chase Jessamine Stakes (G2T) last year before making an unsuccessful bid in the Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf (G1T).

After training well over the Fair Grounds main track, Cox entered the Nyquist   filly into the Rachel Alexandra Stakes presented by Fasig-Tipton (G2), where she stunned the field at 17-1 with a sweeping closing kick. That victory vaulted Turnerloose into Kentucky Oaks contention, as she now sits in a tie for third with Katheen O. and Shahama  with 50 points.

Florent Geroux, who has ridden Turnerloose in all five of her trips to the post, retains the mount.

Hidden Connection, carrying the silks of Hidden Brook Farm and Black Type Thoroughbreds, will seek to rebound after the Rachel Alexandra, where she finished fourth as the post-time 2-1 favorite.

Following the Rachel Alexandra, trainer Bret Calhoun was pleased with the effort but believed his filly was a little short following a three-month layoff.

"I think it was a good race for her to move forward. Reylu (Gutierrez, jockey) had to use her some out of the gate being stuck in the 11-post. She fought hard but just got a little empty on us. She's been off a good while and her works coming back were subpar until that last work which was good. So I think we gave up a little fitness there."

Recent allowance optional claiming winners Favor, Bernabreezy , who was third in the Jan. 22 Silverbulletday Stakes over this track, and Sequist complete the field.

Entries: Twinspires.com Louisiana Derby (G2)

Fair Grounds Race Course & Slots, Saturday, March 26, 2022, Race 12

• Grade II
• 1 3/16m
• Dirt
• $1,000,000
• 3 yo
• 5:44 PM (local)

PP	Horse	Jockey	Wgt	Trainer	M/L
1	Silent Power (KY)	Gerard Melancon	122	Scott Gelner	-
2	Zozos (KY)	Florent Geroux	122	Brad H. Cox	-
3	Call Me Midnight (KY)	James Graham	122	J. Keith Desormeaux	-
4	Curly Tail (KY)	Colby J. Hernandez	122	Dallas Stewart	-
5	Kupuna (KY)	Reylu Gutierrez	122	W. Bret Calhoun	-
6	Epicenter (KY)	Joel Rosario	122	Steven M. Asmussen	-
7	Pioneer of Medina (KY)	Tyler Gaffalione	122	Todd A. Pletcher	-
8	Galt (KY)	Junior Alvarado	122	William I. Mott	-
9	Rattle N Roll (KY)	Brian Joseph Hernandez, Jr.	122	Kenneth G. McPeek	-