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Echo Zulu Has Another Good Day After Surgery

One day after fetlock arthrodesis surgery to repair broken sesamoids in her left front leg, Echo Zulu (Gun Runner) spent an uneventful day at Steve Asmussen's barn at Santa Anita, according to David Fiske, racing manager for co-owner Ron Winchell.

“No significant change from yesterday,” texted Fiske in response to a TDN request for an update.

“(She) splits her time between lying down and standing at her stall door eating hay. At this stage, that feels like a win. No news is good news.”

Echo Zulu was working in company with stablemate Gunite (Gun Runner) on Friday morning at Santa Anita when she suffered the injury. She was operated on Saturday by California veterinarian Dr. Ryan Carpenter.

“The surgery went very good,” said Carpenter on Saturday after the surgery. “She's up and headed back to the barn. From this point on, we take it day by day. These cases are not out of the woods for the next four to six weeks but every good day is a day closer to a successful outcome.”

In 2023, Echo Zulu won the GI Ballerina H., GII Honorable Miss H., GIII Winning Colors S. Her overall racing record was 11 starts, with nine wins and earnings of $2,640,375.

Fiske said it was too soon to determine what happens next for the four-year-old filly, trained by Steve Asmuseen.

“Too early to say,” he said. “Steve will go out sometime in the near future to better assess the situation. Then we can look at our options. A lot will depend on when she is deemed able to travel.”

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Fiske: Echo Zulu Surgery `Went As Well As Could Be Expected’

Echo Zulu (Gun Runner) had successful surgery today to repair her two broken sesamoids in her left front leg and the surgery “went as well as could be expected” said David Fiske, racing manager to co-owner Ron Winchell.

The surgery was performed at the Southern California Equine Foundation's hospital on the grounds of Santa Anita Park.

The 4-year-old filly suffered an injury Friday morning at Santa Anita, working in company with stablemate Gunite (Gun Runner) in preparation for the Breeders' Cup.

“She's out of surgery,” said Fiske. “Out of recovery. (It) went as well as could be expected. Prognosis guarded. A lot depends on sufficient blood supply to the surgery site and how well she can take care of herself.”

The surgery was performed by veterinarian Ryan Carpenter. “The surgery went very good,” said Carpenter. “She's up and headed back to the barn. From this point on, we take it day by day. These cases are not out of the woods for the next four to six weeks but every good day is a day closer to a successful outcome.”

In 2023, Echo Zulu won the GI Ballerina H., GII Honorable Miss H., GIII Winning Colors S. Her overall racing record was 11 starts, with nine wins and earnings of $2,640,375.

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Echo Zulu Fractures Sesamoids in Santa Anita Workout; Surgery Scheduled

Echo Zulu (Gun Runner–Letgomyecho, by Menifee), the 2021 champion 2-year-old filly and GI Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies winner who also captured three other Grade I races, including the 2023 Ballerina H., suffered two broken left front sesamoids Friday morning as she was working in company with Gunite, confirmed David Fiske, racing manager for owner Ron Winchell.

“Echo Zulu sustained a biaxial sesamoid bone fracture of the left-front fetlock during training this morning at Santa Anita,” Fiske texted the TDN. “She has been stabilized in a kimzey splint and will undergo surgery for a fetlock arthrodesis tomorrow.”

According to the Kimzey Welding website, which sells the device, a kimzey splint is comprised of aluminum with a neo-foam lining. Three nylon and velcro straps secure the splint to the injured leg while a fourth strap at the base of the splint holds the hoof firmly in place.

In a 2020 story on the procedure, Dan Ross explained, “There are two primary candidates for fetlock arthrodesis, experts say: horses crippled with degenerative arthritis, and in racehorses, those that suffer a closed biaxial proximal sesamoid fracture (when both sesamoid bones break in the same leg).”

The story continues, “The initial portion of the surgery concerns the removal of cartilage between the bones, to make the fusion as tight and stable as possible.”

“That's the most important part of the procedure that's often not done correctly,' warned California veterinarian Ryan Carpenter, who has performed numerous procedures, at the time. “You need that bone-on-bone interface so that it can heal properly.”

A plate is placed across the front of the fetlock, which holds the whole joint in place, wrote Ross. This plate is secured with screws that can be inserted into the fetlock, pastern, cannon bone and, when necessary, the sesamoids. A tension band, a wire that goes behind the fetlock joint, provides another layer of joint stabilization.

“When the sesamoid bones break, you have nothing that supports it back there, and the fetlock drops,” said Carpenter, of the need for this mechanism.

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Champion Echo Zulu Leads Asmussen Workers

A trio of Breeders' Cup-bound horses trained by Hall of Famer Steve Asmussen had their first works at Santa Anita Friday.

Drilling easy half miles under the watchful eye of assistant Scott Blasi were Echo Zulu (Gun Runner), who went the distance in 50.80 seconds and Society (Gun Runner), who completed her move in 50.20 seconds.

Also working for Asmussen was Private Creed (Jimmy Creed), who was officially clocked going three furlongs in 37.40 seconds.

“This was their first work on the racetrack so we didn't want to do a whole lot,” Blasi said. “It was just a maintenance breeze to get them used to the surface.”

Echo Zulu, the champion 2-year-old filly of 2021, is a perfect 3-for-3 this campaign including a win in the GI Ballerina S. most recently Aug. 26 at Saratoga. She is being pointed to either the GI Breeders' Cup Sprint going six furlongs against males or the GI Breeders' Cup Filly & Mare Sprint at seven furlongs. Both races are slated for Nov. 4 at Santa Anita.

Society is headed to the GI Breeders' Cup Distaff at 1 1/8 miles the same day at Santa Anita. Private Creed is targeting the five-furlong GI Breeders' Cup Turf Sprint Nov. 4.

Asmussen and Blasi plan to work two more Breeders' Cup hopefuls on Saturday at Santa Anita: Clairiere (Curlin), who will also go in the Distaff; and Gunite (Gun Runner), who is possible for either the Sprint or Dirt Mile, both also Nov. 4.

In other Breeders' Cup news, top-rated Classic contender Arcangelo (Arrogate) walked the shedrow and appeared to be doing well the morning after having his first work at Santa Anita. On Thursday, the Belmont and Travers winner drilled five furlongs in 1:02.20 for trainer Jena Antonucci.

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