Velazquez on Ready's Echo, off Anak Nakal

ELMONT, N.Y. Trainer Nick Zito and Kassem Masri, the owner of Anak Nakal, on Monday released jockey John Velazquez from his commitment to ride Anak Nakal in the Belmont Stakes on Saturday so Velazquez could ride Readys Echo.

Velazquez had committed to Anak Nakal before knowing definitively that Readys Echo would run. Readys Echo is trained by Velazquezs main client, Todd Pletcher.

We had a call and we released him, Zito said. Mr. Masri and I believe in good karma.

Zito said Julien Leparoux would now ride Anak Nakal. Alan Garcia, Zito said, would ride Zitos second Belmont entrant, Da Tara.