Echo Zulu works, will begin season in Fair Grounds Oaks

Champion filly Echo Zulu will make her 3-year-old debut March 26 in the Fair Grounds Oaks after working to her connections’ satisfaction on Monday at Fair Grounds.

Echo Zulu was officially timed in 1:00.20 for a five-furlong, in-company work. Trainer Steve Asmussen said Echo Zulu galloped out six furlongs in “1:13 and change” and seven furlongs in a little over 1:26.

“She worked great, did everything we were hoping for in the style we’re used to. Everything depends on how she comes out of it, but she ate up good and is acting good in her stall,” Asmussen said later Monday morning.

Entries for the Fair Grounds Oaks and the rest of the March 26 Louisiana Derby card will be taken this Saturday. Regardless of who runs, Echo Zulu will be an overwhelming favorite.

Turnerloose, who narrowly won the Feb. 19 Rachel Alexandra, the most recent race in Fair Grounds’ series for 3-year-old filly dirt-route horses, is running back in the Fair Grounds Oaks. So is Hidden Connection, the fourth-place Rachel Alexandra finisher. Rachel Alexandra runner-up Goddess of Fire isn’t coming back, but trainer Todd Pletcher said he’s sending the filly Favor for the local Oaks.

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Echo Zulu had a fabulous Eclipse Award-winning 2-year-old campaign. She won her debut, a Saratoga maiden race, by 5 1/2 lengths, and went on to win the Grade 1 Spinaway there by four lengths. Then came a 7 1/4-length victory in the Grade 1 Frizette, a one-turn Belmont mile, and a 5 1/4-length Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies romp in Echo Zulu’s first two-turn try.

She had her first workout of 2022 on Feb. 8 and after Monday’s breeze has gotten in four five-furlong drills.

“She’s physically capable now and has enough foundation to run up to her standards,” said Asmussen.

Asmussen also on Monday gave Epicenter his final tune-up for the $1 million Louisiana Derby, for which Epicenter is the presumptive favorite. Epicenter went an in-company five furlongs in 59.80 seconds, posting gallop-out times similar to Echo Zulu’s.

“Extremely happy with how he worked,” Asmussen said. “I like how he’s come out of his race. He’s showing good focus in the morning.”

Epicenter won the Gun Runner Stakes on Dec. 26 and was beaten a nose by Call Me Midnight in the Jan. 22 Lecomte. He won the Risen Star Stakes on Feb. 19 by 2 3/4 lengths after making an easy lead.