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Echo Town Puts It All Together In H. Allen Jerkens

L and N Racing's Echo Town, a tough-luck runner-up against a familiar cast of rivals last time out, swept to the lead on the far outside and powered down the center of the track to earn his first career stakes triumph in Saturday's Grade 1, $300,000 H. Allen Jerkens presented by Runhappy at Saratoga Race Course in Saratoga Springs, N.Y.

The 36th running of the seven-furlong Jerkens for 3-year-olds was the third of five stakes, three of them Grade 1, worth $2 million in purses on a spectacular 12-race Whitney Day program highlighted by Improbable's victory over Tom's d'Etat in the 93rd renewal of the historic Grade 1, $750,000 Whitney for 3-year-olds and up, a “Win and You're In” qualifier for the Breeders' Cup Classic.

Also on Saturday's card were the Grade 1, $500,000 Personal Ensign presented by NYRA Bets for older females, a “Win and You're In” qualifier for the Breeders' Cup Distaff where champion Midnight Bisou was upset as the 1-5 favorite by Calumet Farm's Vexatious; the Grade 2, $250,000 Bowling Green for older turf horses; and the $200,000 Caress for older female turf sprinters.

Echo Town's drama-free triumph in 1:22.53 over a fast main track under jockey Ricardo Santana Jr. for Hall of Fame trainer Steve Asmussen came three hours after the same duo finished ran second with Midnight Bisou and had the outcome confirmed by a steward's inquiry following the jockey's objection.

A bay son of champion sprinter Speightstown that went unraced at 2, Echo Town had alternated wins and losses through his first six starts this year, capturing his January 18 debut at Fair Grounds and a March 13 open allowance at Oaklawn Park. Second by a head in the six-furlong Bachelor in April, he stretched out to seven-eighths for the first time last out, the Grade 1 Woody Stephens on June 20 at Belmont Park, where he overcame some early trouble to be second behind No Parole, the Jerkens' 2-1 favorite.

“It was great to see him put it all together when it matters so much on this stage. He ran solidly here. He ran really well into the Woody Stephens, but I thought the timing of this race was better,” Asmussen said. “He's run hard all year. He's run consistently all year. Now, he will be noticed.”

No Parole, seeking his third consecutive victory, found himself in familiar front-running fashion pressed by Grade 1 winner Eight Rings through a quarter-mile in 22.67 seconds and two-time Grade 3 winner Mischevious Alex after a half in 45.31. Tap It to Win, last seen running fifth behind Tiz the Law in the Grade 1 Belmont Stakes on June 20, moved up into a contending position with the leaders on the turn from his far outside post while Echo Town remained unhurried in fifth.

“He broke really sharp today and when the dirt started hitting him in the face, he was jumping a little bit but he was really comfortable,” Santana said. “I took him outside and he gave me a nice kick at the end. He was traveling really well. I knew there was plenty of speed today and I just wanted to sit behind the speed. I'm really happy with the horse.”

The top three turned for home together when No Parole along the rail began to drop back, leaving Mischevious Alex and Tap It to Win in a duel. Santana put Echo Town in a drive midway around the far turn, tipped furthest outside once in the straight and came with a steady run to catch the leaders and surge past for a 3 1/2-length victory. Tap It to Win, with Hall of Famer John Velazquez up, held off Echo Town's late-running stablemate Shoplifted by a half-length for second.

“I had a perfect trip. I broke on the outside and let him get his position going into the turn. I gave him his head but the other horse passed him easily. He put in a good run,” Velazquez said. “I think he's probably best going a flat mile. Today, he ran a really good race but because we had such a bad post, I had to let him burn a little bit so we could save a little ground into the turn.”

It was 1 1/2 lengths back to 28-1 long shot Captain Bombastic in fourth, followed by Sonneman, Mischevious Alex, Eight Rings, Hopeful Treasure, No Parole, Three Technique and Liam's Pride.

In giving both Asmussen and Santana their first career Jerkens victory, Echo Town returned $16.40 for a $2 win bet.

Purchased for $100,000 at Keeneland's 2018 September Yearling Sale, Kentucky-bred Echo Town earned $165,000 for the victory to push his career bankroll to $375,320.

Live racing returns Sunday to Saratoga to wrap up the second full week of the summer meet with a 10-race program featuring the $100,000 Birdstone for 4-year-olds and up going 1 ¾ miles in Race 9 at 5:46 p.m. First post is 1:10 p.m.

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Speightstown Colt Scores Breakout Win in Jerkens

L & N Racing’s Echo Town (Speightstown) registered his first win at the highest level with a 7-1 upset in Saratoga’s GI H. Allen Jerkens Memorial S. Saturday. The bay raced in mid-pack early as recent GI Woody Stephens S. hero No Parole (Violence) doled out a first quarter in :22.67 with MGSW Mischevious Alex (Into Mischief) pressing from second. Mischevious Alex turned up the heat on No Parole as the half went in :45.31 and Tap It to Win (Tapit) ranged up menacingly on their outside turning for home. Echo Town swung out four wide turning for home and swiftly inhaled the top three in mid-stretch, charging clear to a dominant 3 1/2-length victory. Tap It to Win held second and ‘TDN Rising Star’ Shoplifted (Into Mischief) completed the trifecta. Favored No Parole faded to ninth.

“He ran an excellent race,” winning trainer Steve Asmussen said. “It’s extremely significant winning the Allen Jerkens. Ricardo [Santana] did a great job with him today. I think the timing for him was better going into today than the Woody Stephens, and he showed it today. I thought 22 and 3 was soft for this group. I thought Echo Town ran the race of his life and Shoplifted, who was second in the [GI] Hopeful last year here obviously likes this track.”

The Hall of Famer continued, “It was great to see him put it all together when it matters so much on this stage. He ran solidly here. He ran really well into the Woody Stephens, but I thought the timing of this race was better.”

A debut winner at the Fair Grounds Jan. 18, Echo Town was third next out at Oaklawn Feb. 23 and returned to winning ways in the slop there Mar. 13. Missing by a head in the Bachelor S. in Hot Springs Apr. 25, he captured a Churchill Downs sprint May 25 prior to his effort in the Woody June 20 at Belmont.

Pedigree Notes:

Echo Town is the 18th Grade I victory for his sire Speightstown, as well as the 56th graded winner and 113th black-type scorer for the WinStar stallion. Out of GSW Letgomyecho, the winner is a half to Grade III victor J Boys Echo and GSP Unbridled Outlaw (Unbridled’s Song). The 18-year-old mare is also responsible for the 2-year-old colt Burrow (Candy Ride {Arg}), a $200,000 OBSAPR buy; a yearling filly by Gun Runner; and an American Pharoah filly born May 8 of this year.

Saturday, Saratoga
H. ALLEN JERKENS S. PRESENTED BY RUNHAPPY-GI, $300,000, Saratoga, 8-1, 3yo, 7f, 1:22.53, ft.
1–ECHO TOWN, 120, c, 3, by Speightstown
1st Dam: Letgomyecho (GSW, $136,200), by Menifee
2nd Dam: Echo Echo Echo, by Eastern Echo
3rd Dam: Kashie West, by Sir Ivor
1ST BLACK TYPE WIN, 1ST GRADED STAKES WIN, 1ST GRADE I
WIN. ‘TDN Rising Star’ ($100,000 Ylg ’18 KEESEP). O-L & N
Racing LLC; B-Betz, Betz, Burns, CHNNHK Thoroughbreds,
Magers, CoCo Equine & R (KY); T-Steven M. Asmussen;
J-Ricardo Santana, Jr. $165,000. Lifetime Record: 7-4-2-1,
$375,320. *1/2 to Unbridled Outlaw (Unbridled’s Song), GSP,
$253,478; J Boys Echo (Mineshaft), GSW, $377,543. Werk Nick
Rating: A+. Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree.
2–Tap It to Win, 120, r, 3, Tapit–Onepointhreekarats, by
Medaglia d’Oro. O-Live Oak Plantation; B-Live Oak Stud (FL);
T-Mark E. Casse. $60,000.
3–Shoplifted, 120, c, 3, Into Mischief–Shopit, by Yes It’s True.
‘TDN Rising Star’ ($525,000 Ylg ’18 KEESEP; $800,000 2yo ’19
FTFMAR). O-Grandview Equine, Cheyenne Stables, LLC & LNJ
Foxwoods; B-Machmer Hall, Carrie & Craig Brogden (KY);
T-Steven M. Asmussen. $36,000.
Margins: 3HF, HF, 1HF. Odds: 7.20, 3.65, 18.50.
Also Ran: Captain Bombastic, Sonneman, Mischevious Alex, Eight Rings, Hopeful Treasure, No Parole, Three Technique, Liam’s Pride.
Click for the Equibase.com chart, the TJCIS.com PPs or the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree. VIDEO, sponsored by Fasig-Tipton.

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Woody Stephens Top Four Return in Jerkens

Four out of the five runners from the GI Woody Stephens S., topped by winner No Parole (Violence), will face off again Saturday in a loaded renewal of the GI H. Allen Jerkens S. at Saratoga. ‘TDN Rising Star’ No Parole won his first three races against fellow LA-breds by a combined 34 lengths. Facing defeat for the first time when trying two turns in the GII Rebel S. Mar. 14, the bay returned to the winner’s circle when cut back to six panels in an Oaklawn optional claimer Apr. 24 and was last seen scoring a decisive victory in the Woody June 20.

Fellow ‘TDN Rising Star’ Echo Town (Speightstown) captured a Churchill optional claimer May 25 prior to a runner-up effort in the Woody Stephens. The third-place finisher in that test, Shoplifted (Into Mischief), is also a ‘TDN Rising Star’ and winner of the Springboard Mile S. at the end of last year. Also exiting the Woody Stephens is fourth-place finisher Mischevious Alex (Into Mischief), winner of the GIII Swale S. Feb. 1 and GIII Gotham S. Mar. 7.

Eight Rings (Empire Maker) looks to return to his juvenile form in this test. Winner of the GI American Pharoah S. last term, the ‘TDN Rising Star’ could only manage sixth in the GI TVG Breeders’ Cup Juvenile S. Nov. 1 and was fifth in his seasonal bow in Oaklawn’s Bachelor S. last time Apr. 25.

Tap It To Win (Tapit) should relish this cut back in trip. Capturing a six-panel event at Gulfstream May 9, the bay wired the field when stretched to 1 1/16 miles at Belmont June 4 and was wheeled back just 16 days later in the nine-furlong GI Belmont S., where he faded to fifth after setting the pace.

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John Sikura Joins TDN Writers’ Room

With the smoking hot sire Violence picking up another Grade I win, with Volatile in the Alfred G. Vanderbilt H. at Saratoga, John Sikura has a lot to talk about and a lot to be happy about. The President of Hill ‘n’ Dale Farms, where Violence stands, has seen that stallion’s career get off to a fast start, slow down and now take off again.

Sikura joined the TDN Writers’ Room podcast presented by Keeneland to discuss Violence’s recent accomplishments, the decision to bring in Kantharos and his thoughts on the 140-mare cap being imposed by The Jockey Club on all stallions born after 2019.

One of the things that has most impressed Sikura about Violence is the versatile nature of his offspring. The story this year has been his sprinters. Volatile is an Eclipse Award candidate and No Parole is undefeated sprinting and picked up the biggest win of his career in the GI Woody Stephens S. at seven furlongs.

“He’s an interesting horse in that in his first crop, he got fillies, he got turf, he got two turns, and now he has two Grade I-winning sprint horses,” said Sikura, who was the Green Group Guest of the Week. “That bodes very well for the success of the sire, showing that versatility. He’s multi-dimensional. He’s a big, handsome horse. And it really couldn’t come at a better time with the September sales right around the corner. He’s proven he can get the racehorse of the ultimate ability and we’re right back on track and heading upward.”

The breeding market can be so fickle that Hill ‘n’ Dale cut Violence’s stud fee from $40,000 to $25,000 after a slow 2019. He was the number-one sophomore sire of 2018.

“My confidence in the horse has really never wavered or shaken, but the reality was we provided a price break this year because stud fees should be dependent upon not only sales success, but racing success,” Sikura said. “Too often, people don’t see that both ends of the business are interconnected and you sell these yearlings to be racehorses. I think you should be buoyant in terms of success, when horses are winning at the highest level and I think the breeder deserves a break when things are quiet.”

In the fall of 2016, Stonestreet Stables announced that Kantharos would be moving from Ocala Stud in Florida to Hill ‘n’ Dale. He was the leading active sire in Florida at the time. Sikura conceded that a lot of guesswork goes into the equation when transferring a sire from a regional market to Kentucky.

“It’s much like a high school athlete that is going to play in a local college and be successful, or can you play at a D1 school, whatever the sport might be, and succeed?” he said. “You have to have a feel for it. You’re betting on the horse and you’re betting that the quality of marriage that he bred, the success that he’s had, is really disproportionate to the opportunity in a positive way. I looked at Kantharos, and I looked at the stakes winners, and looked at his winners. Then I started to see horses become graded stakes winners and that was very exciting. Then, with XY Jet and World Of Trouble, you’re starting to get Grade I winners and champions. He was a really good racehorse. He threw a good type, and we believed that he would certainly fit a niche in the Kentucky marketplace. The hope is always that without limitation, he will continue to ascend the sire ranks and go to the next level.”

Though Hill ‘n’ Dale does not typically breed its stallions to huge books of mares, Sikura is not a fan of the new Jockey Club rules. He says they create a playing field that is no longer level because stallions that were grand fathered can breed to far more mares than those who were born after 2019.

“Whatever the rules are, they must be applied equally to everybody,” he said. “And if it’s going to be 140 mares, then there has to be a year under which every stallion that breeds in North America must comply with and have the same rules. We talk about this lack of consistency. The Jockey Club complains about the lack of consistency in different jurisdictions as far as medication, various control issues. Now they have an edict that sort of gets right in the middle of free enterprise, free commerce. I believe in fairness. I believe in competition, but I don’t believe in any competitive edge. If genetic diversity or the concentration of one sire in the sales ring, giving more opportunity to others is the goal, and if it’s an immediate and anxious goal, and important to the industry, which they state as the premise for the rule, then it must apply the same day to everybody.”

The Writers’ Room also discussed the return of Maximum Security (New Year’s Day), the winner of the GII San Diego H.

In the West Point Thoroughbreds news segment, the writers discussed this weekend’s stakes races and an incident involving jockey Hector Caballero. On Monday at Parx, Caballero struck his mount in on the neck or shoulder with his whip after the race had concluded.

Click here to watch the podcast on Vimeo.

Click here for the audio-only version.

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