Echo Zulu leaves Honorable Miss rivals far behind; earns 112 Beyer

SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. - When asked minutes after Echo Zulu dominated Wednesday’s $200,000 Honorable Miss Handicap at Saratoga by 7 1/2 lengths while geared down at the end, trainer Steve Asmussen’s response was short and to the point.

“She’s extremely fast, it’s that simple, she really is,” Asmussen said.

Echo Zulu, who is owned by L and N Racing and Winchell Thoroughbreds, completed six furlongs in 1:08.76 over a fast track and paid $2.80. She earned a 112 Beyer Speed Figure, tying the Beyer given to Cody's Wish in the Metropolitan Handicap as the highest of 2023.

Echo Zulu, the 2-year-old champion filly in 2001 and runner-up in the Breeders’ Cup Filly and Mare Sprint last season, added the Grade 2 Honorable Miss to her similarly convincing victory in the Grade 3 Winning Colors to open her 2003 campaign. Her goal this year is to get back to the Breeders’ Cup and potentially win another divisional championship.

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Breaking from the rail in a field of just four fillies and mares, Echo Zulu wasted little time showing off her abundant speed, taking control from the outset while pressed by Frank’s Rockette through early splits of 22.82 seconds and 44.45 for the opening half. She readily disposed of her early pursuer upon settling into the stretch, opened a commanding advantage through midstretch, and was allowed to cruise to the wire under jockey Florent Geroux with the issue no longer in doubt.

Dr B dropped back after an alert beginning, swung four wide into the stretch and was along to be second best while never menacing the winner. Frank’s Rockette tired from her early efforts chasing the winner and finished another two lengths further back in third with Maryquitecontrary trailing throughout.

The Honorable Miss gave Echo Zulu her third one-sided victory in as many starts at Saratoga. She opened her career locally with an easy win in her debut followed by a four-length triumph seven weeks later in the Grade 1 Spinaway. She solidified her first Eclipse championship by completing a perfect season with a popular 5 1/4-length triumph in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies at Del Mar.

“I have an unbelievable amount of gratitude to have her in the barn training, with her being a champion,” said Asmussen. “As fast as she was when she was younger, the older the Gun Runners get, the faster they go and that [the Honorable Miss] was another example of it.

“She’s doing it quicker than they are, easier than they are. She goes along at a rate they [her competition] are just not comfortable doing.”

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Asmussen said his chief concern coming into the Honorable Miss was how Echo Zulu would break from her inside post.

“I was extremely nervous about just getting away from there cleanly,” Asmussen said. “She broke well, very comfortable and very fast. She looking beautiful coming into the stretch.”

Asmussen said the Grade 1 Ballerina Handicap here on Aug. 26 is definitely the next target for Echo Zulu.

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