Impressive Debut for Winchell's Echo Again

There was no surprise in the seventh race at Saratoga Race Course Aug 20.

Echo Again , a 2-year-old son of the impressive sire Gun Runner  , did not sneak up on anyone.

Ridden by Ricardo Santana Jr., Echo Again blew away the other six maidens and won his debut at 6 1/2-furlongs with authority. The final margin was 6 3/4 lengths and it could have been more

"He has trained like that," Hall of Fame trainer Steve Asmussen said. "We are fortunate to have some unbelievable horses, but he has been separate or different or better—however you want to put it —the whole time."

Echo Again is owned and bred by Winchell Thoroughbreds.

Asmussen got what he expected he would get when Echo Again broke sharply from the gate and was never headed. He found his strongest gear in mid-stretch when the Todd Pletcher-trained Summonyourcourage  got close. But only for a second.

Echo Again spurted away and won easily.

"He is a horse my oldest (son) Keith gets on regularly and he said he is the best horse he has been on and I believe him," Asmussen said. "I loved how he acted. I was a little concerned because he is very confident in his ability. For him to come over here on Alabama day with a lot of people, I thought he kept his head about him."

Asmussen was in no hurry to commit to what might be next for his newest stable star.

"We are just going to pet on him for now," he said. "The good news is that we have some options."