Breakout Beyers: Echo Zulu runs a fast one, but how long can she go?

Each week in this space, the top Beyer performances by maiden winners will be featured and analyzed. Click here for a complete archive.

Echo Zulu

July 15, 5th race Saratoga, MdSpWt100k

Beyer: 92

5 1/2f 1:04.69 – 1st by 5 1/2 lengths

b. f. 2, Gun Runner – Letgomyecho, by Menifee

Noteworthy siblings: Echo Town (Speightstown) – G1 winner, $410K earnings; J Boys Echo (Mineshaft) – G3 winner, $378K earnings; Unbridled Outlaw (Unbridled’s Song) – graded stakes-placed, $253K earnings; Dragic (Broken Vow) – stakes-placed, $103K earnings

Auctions: Keeneland September yearling 2020 – $300,000

Owner: L & N Racing and Winchell Thoroughbreds

Trainer: Steve Asmussen

Breeder: Betz/J. Betz/Burns/CHNNHK/Magers/CoCo Equine/Ramsby

Gun Runners – running wild. This is a serious Beyer Speed Figure for a 2-year-old debuting in mid-July; we’ll see how those left in her wake fare during the next several weeks, but if the figure is legit, they should do well. Asmussen 2-year-olds are typically among the more professional racehorses without experience, and this filly fit the mold. Broke sharply, pressed the pace, changed leads on cue, and ran straight to the wire. The dam, as seen above, has gotten plenty of runners, but they may not stay very far. Echo Zulu looked a compact, efficient sort who might hold true to that produce trend.

Microbiome

July 15, 2nd race Saratoga, MdSpWt100k

Beyer: 77

5 1/2f 1:05.60 – 1st by 5 1/2 lengths

b. f. 2, Twirling Candy – Sonja’s Angel, by Smoke Glacken

Auctions: Keeneand September yearling 2020 – $100,000

Owner: Joel Politi

Trainer: Tom Amoss

Breeder: John Penn

She won by open lengths, making Echo Zulu’s performance a few races later on the same card look very legit, given the wide gap in final times. Microbiome’s race was slower by two to three lengths through the quarter, half, and five-eighths, as well as the final time, meaning she didn’t have to work especially hard making the clear lead she established into the turn. Still gets credit for finishing things off with good energy in a decisive score – just not seeing the flashy final figure with a horse like Echo Zulu. Given overall shape of pedigree, turf sprinting could come up as an option if the dirt path doesn’t lead where they want by the autumn.

Tango Tango Tango

July 17, 7th race Arlington, American Derby100k

Beyer: 86

1 1/16M turf 1:43.58 – 1st by 2 length

b. c. 3, Tourist – First Consul, by Deputy Commander

Auctions: Keeneland September yearling 2020 – $35,000

Owner: Calumet Farm

Trainer: Jack Sisterson

Breeder: Frederick Weiting

The young sire hasn’t thrown many sparks, and there are some obscure names in the pedigree – all in all, one wonders how he wound up on Calumet’s list of horses to consider at Keeneland’s 2020 September yearling sale, where he was sold for a mere $35,000. But here we are. Okay tries in his first two starts, both on dirt, and more signs of life third out in his grass debut, but there he still was defeated in an Ellis Park maiden race, making entry into this stakes race a bold maneuver. Blinkers were added, he sat just off a slow tempo, and not only did he score an upset in the American Derby, he was comfortably best in this race. Could well see him seeking his second career victory in the Grade 1 Bruce D. Stakes next month at Arlington.

Smash Ticket

July 17, 5th race Del Mar, MdSpWt72k

Beyer: 78

5f 58.16 – 1st by 5 lengths

b. f. 2, Midnight Lute – Hennesey Smash, by Roll Hennessy Roll

Noteworthy siblings: Roll On Diabolical (Diabolical) – multiple stakes winner $154K

Owner: Brad King, Suzanne Kirby, Stan Kirby

Trainer: Todd Fincher

Breeder: Brad King

Was the secret out, or did she just look so good in this Del Mar maiden race off a debut runner-up finish at Lone Star that she was an obvious even-money shot? Granted, the horse who beat her at Lone Star, Asmussen-trained Wicked Halo, has some talent, but the price here still was surprisingly short. The filly made it stand up, however. Under Umberto Rispoli, she contested the early pace, took command on the turn, and won as her rider pleased, with nearly six lengths between the second- and third-place finishers as well. Seems like a very one-turn leaning pedigree, but she could get seven furlongs, one assumes.

Ducale

July 17, 11th race Saratoga, MdSpWt100k

Beyer: 97

7f 1:23.16 – 1st by 2 lengths

b. c. 3, Twirling Candy – Barbadia, by Speightstown

Owner: Juddmonte Farms

Trainer: Brad Cox

Breeder: Juddmonte Farms

Second Twirling Candy offspring on this list, and a sire I once thought was suspect has turned out to be very solid. Was working as far back as August 2020 but didn’t debut until this summer at Churchill, showing ability when good second first time out. Bet to odds-on favoritism going seven panels second time out, and made the price stand up with a good-trip victory over a runner-up who had more than six lengths on the show horse. Juddmonte homebred has Nureyev and Nijinsky II as dam sires on the bottom side of the pedigree, and while her races are saying one-turn dirt horse, the pedigree suggests two turns on turf could be an option at some point, as well. Can’t see a surface switch in the immediate future as she moved well enough on the main track and would have some good options at a mile and under on dirt late this summer and fall.

Portfolio Company

July 17, 6th race Saratoga, MdSpWt100k

Beyer: 72

1 1/16M turf 1:45.57 – 1st by 3/4 length

b. c. 2, Kitten’s Joy – Iteration, by Wild Again

Noteworthy siblings: Charming Kitten (Kitten’s Joy) – multiple stakes winner, $1 million earnings; Queen’splatekitten (Kitten’s Joy) – stakes winner $387K earnings

Auctions: Fasig-Tipton select yearling 2020 – $125,000

Owner: Klaravich Stables

Trainer: Chad Brown

Breeder: Kenneth and Sarah Ramsey

Beyer was a little low given the all the options this week, but considering this 2-year-old turf route essentially was run at a crawl, it was going to be impossible to put up much of a final time number. In one sense, the slow pace helped this filly, as she tracked the lead and got first run on closers who had little chance. But she also raced rankly in the early stages, slow to settle in her career debut, running like a filly who could be better off covered up behind more legit fractions. Headed to stakes next out, and likely worth following into the fall. Stamina will be no issue.