Echo Zulu Entered in Memorial Day Stakes at Lone Star

Though the $100,000 Memorial Day Sprint Stakes at Lone Star Park May 29 does not have the purse of the $200,000 Ouija Board Distaff Stakes, the $300,000 Texas Derby, or the $400,000 Steve Sexton Mile Stakes (G3) there, the race lured a North American champion among its entries.

Echo Zulu , winner of the Eclipse Award as champion 2-year-old filly of 2021, has been entered for her first start of 2023 for Hall of Fame trainer Steve Asmussen in the six-furlong test against 10 other fillies and mares, 3-year-olds and up. The 4-year-old daughter of Gun Runner   has not raced since finishing second to Goodnight Olive  in the Breeders' Cup Filly & Mare Sprint (G1) Nov. 5 at Keeneland.

The L and N Racing and Winchell Thoroughbreds-owned filly has been training "brilliantly" this spring at Churchill Downs, Asmussen said. She is nominated to Monday's six-furlong, $225,000 Winning Colors Stakes (G3) at Churchill, where she has racing experience. 

After a 4-for-4 campaign as a juvenile, Echo Zulu won two of four starts last year as a 3-year-old, taking the Fair Grounds Oaks (G2) and Dogwood Stakes (G3). Between those wins, she was fourth in the Kentucky Oaks (G1), after which Asmussen elected to point her toward shorter, one-turn races. She missed a start in the Acorn Stakes (G1) in June when scratched in the post parade.

Adaline Julia  and Kaboom Baby  are prominent entries in the Memorial Day Sprint Stakes.