Echo Zulu Makes It Look E-Z In Frizette

ELMONT, NY – L and N Racing and Winchell Thoroughbreds’ heavily-favored Echo Zulu made it look e-z with a runaway effortless victory in Sunday’s $400,000 Frizette Stakes (G1) at Belmont Park.

The Frizette a Breeders’ Cup “Win and You’re In” event, awarding an automatic berth in the 2021 Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies at Del Mar this November. Additionally, the Frizette is part of the Road to the 2022 Kentucky Oaks (G1) prep race season awarding 10 points to the winner, 4 for second, 2 for third, and 1 for fourth.

Echo Zulu broke from post 6 under Ricardo Santana Jr. as the 1/5 favorite in the field of nine 2-year-old fillies and went straight to the lead, where she posted opening fractions of :22.38 and :45.98 while Gerrymander gave closest watch.

Her rivals ranged up to challenge in the far turn, but Santana Jr. pressed the gas pedal at the 1/4 pole and the Steve Asmussen responded in kind, drawing off impressively to win the one-turn fast dirt mile event by 7 1/4 lengths in 1:35.12.

“It felt like I was walking, how she was doing it. She was really impressive for a 2-year old,” Santana Jr. said. “I had a lot of horse. I never needed to ask her, that’s how much horse I had.”

Gerrymander held onto second by 3 lengths over maiden A Mo Reay, who rallied in the stretch to take third by a pair of necks over Magic Circle and Saucy Lady T.

Jester Calls Nojoy, Hot Fudge, Jumeirah, and Frosty Brew completed the order of finish.

Echo Zulu’s win kept her unbeaten record intact through 3 starts and followed a pair of victories at Saratoga, including the 7-furlong Spinaway Stakes (G1) last time out. The daughter of red-hot freshman sire Gun Runner who’s a half-sister to graded stakes winners J Boys Echo and Echo Town has now earned $440,000 against a $300,000 sticker price as a yearling.

“She’s special. She broke her maiden and we never expected she was ready first time out in Saratoga,” Santana Jr said. “How she did it (shows) she has some ability and she proved it today. She broke good and was waiting for the company. When the company got to her, she took off again. She’s really special.”

Echo Zulu returned $2.70 to win, $2.30 to place, and $2.10 to show. Gerrymander brought back $5.80 to place and $3.70 to show. A Mo Reay paid $2.60 to show.