Echo Zulu

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 5+1⁄2 lengths. She was named a TDN Rising Star by Thoroughbred Daily News.[4][5]

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 4+1⁄2 lengths, becoming the first Grade 1 winner for Gun Runner.[3]

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."[6]

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 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."[7]

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.[8]

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).[9] 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.[10] 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.[11]

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.[12] The track veterinarian gave a clean bill of health, and her connections slowly brought her back to the races.

On September 24 Echo Zulu faced four other fillies in the Grade III Dogwood Stakes at Churchill Downs over seven furlongs. Starting as the 1/2 odds-on favorite Echo Zulu took charge leaving the gate and led every step of the way with splits of :22.92 and :45.82 enroute to a 5+1⁄4-length victory. Trainer Steve Asmussen praised her, "We’re just very happy to have her back. She’s extremely talented that we’re unbelievably blessed to be associated with."[13]

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 5+3⁄4 lengths in front for a final time of 1:08.99.[14]

In preparation for the Breeders' Cup Echo Zulu sustained a biaxial sesamoid fracture of her left front fetlock while training. Echo Zulu had been stabilized in a Kimzey splint and would undergo fetlock arthrodesis surgery. That procedure stabilizes a horse's ankle, preventing joint movement by fusing it into a normal position for the leg. The procedure is credited with boosting survival rates.[15]