Echo Zulu shows Gun Runner traits in dominating Spinaway

SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. - It was only four summers ago that Gun Runner won the Whitney and Woodward - Grade 1 staples for older horses - at Saratoga in dominating fashion on his way to earning Horse of the Year Honors.

On Sunday, Echo Zulu became Gun Runner’s first Grade 1-winning progeny when she dominated the $300,000 Spinaway for 2-year-old fillies by four lengths at Saratoga. Like her sire, it was her second eye-catching performance at the Saratoga meet, this one coming seven weeks after she won her career debut by 5 1/2 lengths.

As the trainer of both Gun Runner and Echo Zulu, this victory was particularly meaningful for Steve Asmussen.

“I can’t measure how much I wanted that; just to have Gun Runner’s first Grade 1 winner - everything he did for the barn,” Asmussen said. “He’s obviously a tremendous sire. Somebody had to be first and I’m glad it was us.”

Echo Zulu, under Ricardo Santana Jr., bobbled slightly at the break from post 3. But, in a blink, she was on the lead, a half-length in front of Benbang through a quarter in 22.07 seconds and a half-mile in 44.73.

Approaching the top of the lane, Benbang couldn’t keep up while Echo Zulu kept on going and widened her advantage. She was never challenged in the final three-sixteenths and covered the seven furlongs in 1:22.51.

“To jump from maidens to a Grade 1 off one race, everything going your own way, is not easy, but I think it takes a special horse to do it and maybe that’s what she is,” Asmussen said.

Echo Zulu, owned by Winchell Thoroughbreds and L and N Racing, returned $3.30 as the favorite.

“I had so much confidence in her that I only put on two goggles for seven furlongs,” Santana said. “She was working unreal and today she improved a lot. I got plenty in the tank.”

Tarabi, an up-close third under Javier Castellano, finished second, 3 3/4 lengths ahead of longshot Saucy Lady T. Sequist, last early, rallied for fourth and was followed by Dream Lith, Benbang, Sue Ellen Mishkin, Girl With a Dream, and Pretty Birdie, the Grade 3 Schuylerville winner who was eased by jockey Luis Saez.

Tarabi trainer Cherie DeVaux was happy with her filly’s runner-up performance “especially with not-an-ideal start. She’s obviously lightly raced. For her to collect herself, get herself back in the race and kick on and put in her own impressive performance I’m extremely pleased.”

For Asmussen, the Spinaway was his 18th win and fourth in a Grade 1 stakes at the meet. Both are personal bests since he began coming here regularly in 2001.

“It’s unbelievable,” Asmussen said. “We have great horses, we got unbelievable opportunities, just like having a 2-year-old like her.”

Asmussen said Echo Zulu would likely be pointed to the Grade 1 Frizette at Belmont Park on Oct. 3.