Champion Echo Zulu Returns Triumphant in Dogwood

Second crop sire phenomenon Gun Runner   garnered his fifth stakes winner of the day when champion Echo Zulu  drew off by 5 1/4 lengths in the $274,000 Dogwood Stakes (G3) at Churchill Downs Sept. 24.

L and N Racing and Winchell Thoroughbreds’ Echo Zulu had been unraced since a fourth-place effort in the May 6 Longines Kentucky Oaks (G1). With the scratches of fellow Steve Asmussen stablemate Wicked Halo  and Chasing Fireflies , only four other fillies lined up to challenge Echo Zulu.

Victorious off spells of absence in the past, this time proved no different as Echo Zulu took charge leaving the gate and led every step of the way under jockey Ricardo Santana Jr. Leading her rivals throughout early splits of :22.92 and :45.82, Echo Zulu was shaken up by Santana at the top of the lane and kicked clear of the field with a quarter-mile to go.

The champion strode to the wire in a time of 1:22.43 for the seven furlongs on a fast main track.

Second choice Tarabi  edged Colorful Mischief  for second.

The 1-2 favorite, Echo Zulu paid $3.02 for a $2 ticket.

“It’s an extremely exciting and emotional win for us,” Asmussen said. “How fitting that Gun Runner’s lone champion caps off his big day with a victory in the Dogwood?”

Echo Zulu, a daughter of the graded stakes winning mare Letgomyecho  (Menifee ), had been previously undefeated before the Kentucky Oaks. The 3-year-old filly was then scratched shortly before the start of the June 11 Acorn Stakes (G1) at Belmont Park on the advice of the track veterinarian. She subsequently received a clean bill of health, and her connections slowly brought her back to the races.

“We’re just very happy to have her back. She’s extremely talented that we’re unbelievably blessed to be associated with,” Asmussen said.

Video: Dogwood S. (G3)

In other action under the lights at Churchill Saturday evening, Sixtythreecaliber , Gunite , and Home Brew scored in supporting stakes.

The Asmussen-trained Gunite  ($3.26) was the flashiest of the trio, taking the $275,000 Harrods Creek Stakes over the speedy Conagher . Winner of last year's Runhappy Hopeful Stakes (G1) and the Amsterdam Stakes (G2) this summer at Saratoga Race Course, his class was on display in the Harrods Creek. Perched in second for the first half-mile of the seven-furlong race, he collared Conagher in midstretch and pulled away by three lengths despite remaining on his left lead down the lane. He was clocked in 1:21.95 for the distance.

Strava  ran third, 2 3/4 lengths behind runner-up Conagher.

Another Saturday stakes winner for Gun Runner, the 3-year-old earned $166,710 to advance his career bankroll to $814,809 for owner/breeder Winchell Thoroughbreds. 

Video: Harrods Creek S. (BT)

Bookending the Dogwood and the Harrods Creek were a pair of stakes routes for 3-year-olds, with MyRaceHorse and Spendthrift Farm's Sixtythreecaliber  ($24.92) capturing the $160,000 Seneca Overnight Stakes for fillies and Gary and Mary West's homebred Home Brew ($13.40) narrowly winning the $275,000 Bourbon Trail Stakes.

Sixtythreecaliber, ridden by Edgar Morales for trainer Tom Amoss, ran down pacesetter Falconet  by a neck, stopping the clock in 1:44.22 for 1 1/16 miles. Bred by Lee Pokoik in Kentucky by out of Include  mare Classofsixtythree , Sixtythreecaliber is one of the aforementioned stakes winners by Gun Runner.

Video: Seneca Overnight S. (BT)

Racing with blinkers on for trainer Brad Cox, Home Brew was a determined victor over Creative Minister  and War Campaign  in a three-horse photo.

The ground-saving, victorious son of Street Sense   stalked the pace early, moved up in the stretch, and completed 1 3/16 miles under Santana in 1:56.39.

Video: Bourbon Trail S. (BT)