Two days before the winners of the Eclipse Awards are officially announced on February 10, Echo Zulu The 2-year-old hypothetical champion of 2021, returned to business with the first breeze of the year on February 8 at Fair Grounds & Slots. The L and N Racing and Winchell Thoroughbreds chronographs feature a full range of three easy grips in: 39 4/5.
“She’s handled great. She’s moving really well,” said Steve Asmussen, Hall of Fame coach. “She looks great, and this is basically a starting point. We’ll see how quickly we add to it.”
Last year at the age of 2, the speed daughter of Gunman went undefeated, scoring first for the first time at Racecourse Saratoga and add three more layers 1. Those include Spinaway Stakes (G1) and Frizette Stakes (G1) before she stretches out two turns and takes NetJets Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies (G1) to complete campaign 2 his age.
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“Brilliant numbers and style, all four of those things – it’s hard to fathom,” her coach said. “But if it’s black and white, it’s true.
“She entered the resting phase with a great attitude. Her weight was good. She looked beautiful. It was interesting. When she was done, there seemed to be a lot more to her than that. before. That’s how it should be from 2 to 3.”
Asmussen decided to coach Echo Zulu in New Orleans this winter, just as he did for his previous Longines Kentucky Oaks (G1) winners. Summer (2005) and Can’t be touched (2014). However, her upcoming race schedule is “to be determined,” he said, noting the early stages of her training.
On February 19, the $300,000 Rachel Alexandra Stakes at Fasig-Tipton (G2) showed up too quickly. Silverbulletday Staking Winner La Crete owned by Stonestreet Stables, is the scheduled representative of Asmussen there.
Twinspires.com’s $400,000 Fair Grounds Oaks (G2) on March 26 is preparation for other Fair Grounds Kentucky Oaks for 3-year-olds. At moment later, Oaklawn Park $600,000 Virtual Share (G3) stage on April 2 and Keeneland held $600,000 Central Bank Ashland Stakes (G1) April 8. All three races were 1/16 mile.
Plans are more established for Asmussen’s 3-year-old males. Winchell Thoroughbreds’ Epicenter run in the $400,000 Risk Star Share presented by Lamarque Ford (G2) on February 19 at the Fair Grounds; MyRacehorse’s Chasing time join the $1 million Rebel Staking (G2) on February 26 in Oaklawn; and Purebred Blue Lions and Craig and Victoria Taylor’s Morelo is a candidate for the $300,000 Gotham Stock (G3) on March 5 at Aqueduct race trackAsmussen said.
Echo Zulu isn’t the only tier 1 millionaire to win an award on Tuesday’s jobs tab in New Orleans. Asmussen also sends Stonestreet Stables’ Clairiere for half a mile at: 51 4/5. However, the winner of last year’s Cotillion Stakes (G1) and Rachel Alexandra Stakes, Clairiere is like Echo Zulu, an Eclipse Prize finalist Malathaat is the predicted champion in the 3-year-old division in 2021.
Also representing Asmussen at the Eclipse Awards are Kirk and Judy Robison’s Jackie’s Warrior a finalist with Hello West and Flight route in a competitive voting race for champion male sprinters. Jackie’s fighter arrived at the Fair Grounds two weeks ago after recovering from knee surgery performed by Dr. Larry Bramlage, Asmussen said.
“He looks like a physical monster, and he travels beautifully. Super excited about him starting to come back,” he added.
Asmussen, who became the most winning coach in North American history last year, is also an Eclipse finalist as the outstanding coach alongside four-time winner Chad Brown and winner 2020 winner Brad Cox, the much-loved will repeat in 2021. Asmussen has been honored with consecutive Eclipse Awards as coach of the year 2008-09.
