Ready's Echo out with ankle injury

Ready's Echo, the runner-up in the Breeders' Cup Dirt Mile here in November, was not entered for Saturday's $150,000 San Pasqual Handicap because of a "jammed ankle," according to trainer Todd Pletcher's assistant, Michael McCarthy.

McCarthy said an assessment of Ready's Echo's condition will be made this week. Owned by Let's Go Stable, Ready's Echo, 5, has won 2 of 14 starts and $517,988. He has not won a stakes, but placed in four consecutive graded stakes from August through November.

The Grade 2 San Pasqual over 1 1/16 miles drew a field of seven, led by Furthest Land, who won the BC Dirt Mile, and 11-time stakes winner Bold Chieftain.

The race will mark the first start in nearly nine months for Nownownow, who won the Grade 2 San Fernando Stakes for 4-year-olds here last January. Jockey Joe Talamo, who rode Nownownow that day, retains the mount and expects a big performance from the 5-year-old Nownownow, who is trained by Patrick Biancone.

"He's doing better now than ever before," Talamo said. "He'll definitely be tested off a layoff but he's pretty fit."

Talamo finished second in the jockey standings at the Hollywood Park fall meeting, but has won with 4 of his first 50 mounts this meet, leaving him tied for eighth through Sunday.

"This is the toughest meet," he said. "When you have such a good Hollywood meeting, you hope it will continue over here."