J Boys Echo targets Iowa Derby

LOUISVILLE, Ky. – J Boys Echo exited his Kentucky Derby adventure with minor stiffness but is otherwise fine and could make his next start in the home state of his owners, the Albaugh Family Stable.

Trainer Dale Romans said the Grade 3, $250,000 Iowa Derby is the next logical spot for J Boys Echo, who was never a factor at 47-1 when finishing 15th in the Derby last Saturday at Churchill Downs. Like several others, the colt was compromised by a chain reaction at the break and never recovered.

“He got bounced around there pretty good,” Romans said. “We brought him back jogging a couple days ago, and he was a little stiff, but we’ll be okay. The Albaughs are from Iowa, so obviously they’d like to win the Iowa Derby. We’ve got plenty of time to work with to try to make that race if that’s what we settle on.”

J Boys Echo, the winner of the Gotham Stakes in early March, broke from post 13 in the Derby. He was slammed from his right side by Classic Empire (post 14) when Irish War Cry caused severe crowding by angling in sharply from post 17.

The Albaugh Family Stable is headed by billionaire Dennis Albaugh, whose global company manufactures chemicals used in agriculture.