Echo Zulu (USA)
April 7, 2019 – February 17, 2024
Gun Runner (USA) x Letgomyecho (USA), by Menifee (USA)
Family 16-g
April 7, 2019 – February 17, 2024
Gun Runner (USA) x Letgomyecho (USA), by Menifee (USA)
Family 16-g
A member of Horse of the Year Gun Runner’s first crop, Echo Zulu helped to get him off to a fast start at stud by earning an Eclipse Award as American champion 2-year-old filly. After finding the Longines Kentucky Oaks (USA-G1) a little too long for her liking, she dropped back to sprint distances and was viewed as a contender in the female sprinter division of 2023 after winning the Ballerina Stakes (USA-G1) at Saratoga. Tragically, she suffered a career-ending injury while training for the Breeders’ Cup Filly and Mare Sprint (USA-G1). She made progress toward recovery through the following four months but on February 17, 2024, became cast in her stall and reinjured herself while trying to get up, forcing her euthanization.
Race record
11 starts, 9 wins, 1 second, 0 thirds, US$2,640,375
2021:
2022:
2023:
Honors
Assessments
Rated at 116 pounds in the Sprint category on the 2022 Longines World’s Best Racehorse Rankings, 23 pounds below overall highweight Flightline (the American Horse of the Year) and 10 pounds below highweighted sprinter Nature Strip (the Australian Horse of the Year).
Rated at 117 pounds in the Sprint category on the 2023 Longines World’s Best Racehorse Rankings, 18 pounds below overall highweight Equinox (the Japanese Horse of the Year) and 8 pounds below highweighted sprinter Lucky Sweynesse, a multiple Group 1 winner in Hong Kong.
As an individual
A well-made bay mare with the beautiful, chiseled head of her sire, Echo Zulu was sweet-natured and kindly to handle. On the track, she was professional and was very quick at the break.
Connections
Foaled in Kentucky, Echo Zulu was bred by Betz/J. Betz/CHNNHK/Magers/CoCo Equine/Ramsby (KY). She was sold for US$300,000 through the 2020 Keeneland September yearling sale and raced for L and N Racing and Winchell Thoroughbreds. She was trained by Steve Asmussen and was ridden to her win in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies by Joel Rosario.
Pedigree notes
Echo Zulu is inbred 4x4 to two-time American champion sire Storm Cat. She is a half sister to 2020 H. Allen Jerkens Stakes Presented by Runhappy (USA-G1) winner Echo Town (by Speightstown) and to 2017 Gotham Stakes (USA-G3) winner J Boys Echo (by Mineshaft).
Echo Zulu’s dam, Letgomyecho, won the 2005 Stonerside Forward Gal Stakes (USA-G2) and is a half sister to stakes winner Soundwave (by Friends Lake), dam of 2020 Ohio Derby (USA-G3) winner Dean Martini (by Cairo Prince). Letgomyecho is also a half sister to listed stakes-placed Balaagha (by Mr. Greeley), dam of Group 2-placed multiple French listed stakes winner Ocean Vision (by U S Navy Flag), and to Echo Harbor (by Boston Harbor), dam of 2009 Sapling Stakes (USA-G3) winner Western Smoke (by Smoke Glacken). In addition, Letgomyecho is a half sister to Let’s Be Creative (by Creative Cause), dam of listed stakes winner Creative Cairo (by Cairo Prince).
Letgomyecho and her siblings were produced from listed stakes-placed Echo Echo Echo (by Eastern Echo) whose half sister Sweet Rita (by Rubiano) is the dam of restricted stakes winner Here Comes Rita (by Raffie’s Majesty). The next dam in Echo Zulu’s tail-female line, Kashie West (by Sir Ivor), is a winning full sister to Visibly Different, second dam of 2003 Diana Handicap (USA-G1) winner Voodoo Dancer. She is a half sister to Grade 2-placed stakes winner Joi’ski (by Key to the Mint), dam of stakes winner Joi’ski Too (by Bold Bidder) and second dam of 1993 Panamanian champion imported 2-year-old male Ulises and 2004 Breeder’ Cup Mile (USA-G1) winner Singletary. Produced from the Tatán mare Tatallah (out of 1956 American champion 2-year-old filly Leallah), Kashie West is also a half sister to Haleallah (by Hawaii), dam of 1982 Vosburgh Handicap (USA-G1) winner Engine One (by Our Michael), French Group 3 winner Neuilly (by Trempolino), and stakes winner Nifty and Neat (by Vigors).
Books and media
The New York Racing Association’s footage of Echo Zulu’s win in the 2021 Frizette Stakes can be viewed at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8WWy2VFtt5Y.
Fun facts
Last updated: March 22, 2024
Race record
11 starts, 9 wins, 1 second, 0 thirds, US$2,640,375
2021:
- Won NetJets Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies (USA-G1, 8.5FD, Del Mar)
- Won Frizette Stakes (USA-G1, 8FD, Belmont)
- Won Spinaway Stakes (USA-G1, 7FD, Saratoga)
2022:
- Won Twinspires.com Fair Grounds Oaks (USA-G2, 8.5FD, Fair Grounds)
- Won Dogwood Stakes (USA-G3, 7FD, Churchill Downs)
- 2nd Breeders' Cup Filly and Mare Sprint (USA-G1, 7FD, Keeneland)
2023:
- Won Ballerina Stakes (USA-G1, 7FD, Saratoga)
- Won Honorable Miss Handicap (USA-G2, 6FD, Saratoga)
- Won Winning Colors Stakes (USA-G3, 6FD, Churchill Downs)
Honors
- Eclipse Award, American champion 2-year-old filly (2021)
- Eclipse Award runner-up, American champion female sprinter (2023)
Assessments
Rated at 116 pounds in the Sprint category on the 2022 Longines World’s Best Racehorse Rankings, 23 pounds below overall highweight Flightline (the American Horse of the Year) and 10 pounds below highweighted sprinter Nature Strip (the Australian Horse of the Year).
Rated at 117 pounds in the Sprint category on the 2023 Longines World’s Best Racehorse Rankings, 18 pounds below overall highweight Equinox (the Japanese Horse of the Year) and 8 pounds below highweighted sprinter Lucky Sweynesse, a multiple Group 1 winner in Hong Kong.
As an individual
A well-made bay mare with the beautiful, chiseled head of her sire, Echo Zulu was sweet-natured and kindly to handle. On the track, she was professional and was very quick at the break.
Connections
Foaled in Kentucky, Echo Zulu was bred by Betz/J. Betz/CHNNHK/Magers/CoCo Equine/Ramsby (KY). She was sold for US$300,000 through the 2020 Keeneland September yearling sale and raced for L and N Racing and Winchell Thoroughbreds. She was trained by Steve Asmussen and was ridden to her win in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies by Joel Rosario.
Pedigree notes
Echo Zulu is inbred 4x4 to two-time American champion sire Storm Cat. She is a half sister to 2020 H. Allen Jerkens Stakes Presented by Runhappy (USA-G1) winner Echo Town (by Speightstown) and to 2017 Gotham Stakes (USA-G3) winner J Boys Echo (by Mineshaft).
Echo Zulu’s dam, Letgomyecho, won the 2005 Stonerside Forward Gal Stakes (USA-G2) and is a half sister to stakes winner Soundwave (by Friends Lake), dam of 2020 Ohio Derby (USA-G3) winner Dean Martini (by Cairo Prince). Letgomyecho is also a half sister to listed stakes-placed Balaagha (by Mr. Greeley), dam of Group 2-placed multiple French listed stakes winner Ocean Vision (by U S Navy Flag), and to Echo Harbor (by Boston Harbor), dam of 2009 Sapling Stakes (USA-G3) winner Western Smoke (by Smoke Glacken). In addition, Letgomyecho is a half sister to Let’s Be Creative (by Creative Cause), dam of listed stakes winner Creative Cairo (by Cairo Prince).
Letgomyecho and her siblings were produced from listed stakes-placed Echo Echo Echo (by Eastern Echo) whose half sister Sweet Rita (by Rubiano) is the dam of restricted stakes winner Here Comes Rita (by Raffie’s Majesty). The next dam in Echo Zulu’s tail-female line, Kashie West (by Sir Ivor), is a winning full sister to Visibly Different, second dam of 2003 Diana Handicap (USA-G1) winner Voodoo Dancer. She is a half sister to Grade 2-placed stakes winner Joi’ski (by Key to the Mint), dam of stakes winner Joi’ski Too (by Bold Bidder) and second dam of 1993 Panamanian champion imported 2-year-old male Ulises and 2004 Breeder’ Cup Mile (USA-G1) winner Singletary. Produced from the Tatán mare Tatallah (out of 1956 American champion 2-year-old filly Leallah), Kashie West is also a half sister to Haleallah (by Hawaii), dam of 1982 Vosburgh Handicap (USA-G1) winner Engine One (by Our Michael), French Group 3 winner Neuilly (by Trempolino), and stakes winner Nifty and Neat (by Vigors).
Books and media
The New York Racing Association’s footage of Echo Zulu’s win in the 2021 Frizette Stakes can be viewed at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8WWy2VFtt5Y.
Fun facts
- Echo Zulu was the first Grade 1 winner for Gun Runner, taking the Spinaway Stakes on September 5, 2021, one day before the similarly sired Gunite won the Spinaway’s masculine counterpart, the Hopeful Stakes (USA-G1). Steve Asmussen, who trained both Echo Zulu and Gunite, had also trained Gun Runner.
Last updated: March 22, 2024