Echo Valley holds off Miss Elecktra to win Southern Park

Echo Valley prevailed by three-quarters of a length over Miss Elecktra in the $75,000 Southern Park Stakes for 3-year-old Ohio-bred fillies on Thursday at Mahoning Valley.

Echo Valley ($10.40), an Echo Town filly co-bred by trainer Robert Gorham with owner Mast Thoroughbreds, has only missed the board once in six career starts. She finished sixth in her only prior stakes try, which came around two turns in the Best of Ohio John W. Galbreath Stakes on the fall state showcase program.

Thursday marked the second start of Echo Valley's 3-year-old campaign. She was third in a Feb. 24 allowance against older fillies at Mahoning Valley.

In the Southern Park, Echo Valley and jockey Erik Barbaran emerged with the lead through an opening quarter-mile of 23.10 seconds on the fast track. They disposed of pressure from Perfect Angel and Dunn’s River, but coming to the half-mile in 46.88, Miss Elecktra emerged on the leader’s throatlatch. They dueled through the stretch, with Echo Valley prevailing, getting her six furlongs in 1:13.10.

Favored Kontiki, sixth at the quarter pole, was 1 1/4 lengths behind Miss Elecktra in third.

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