Echo Zulu holds Hidden Connection by a nose in Fair Grounds Oaks

Mar 26, 2022 James Scully/TwinSpires.com

Making her first start since early November, leading
Kentucky Oaks (G1) contender Echo Zulo
gamely remained unbeaten in Saturday’s $400,000 TwinSpires.com Fair Grounds
Oaks (G2), turning back the bid of Hidden Connection to prevail by a nose.

Joel Rosario rides the classy frontrunning filly for Hall of
Fame trainer Steve Asmussen and owners L and N Racing and Winchell
Thoroughbreds, and Echo Zulu picked up an additional 100 points winning the major
Kentucky Oaks qualifier.

Echo Zulu, who completed the 1 1/16-mile distance in
1:42.69, will head to Churchill Downs as the probable favorite for the May 6
Kentucky Oaks. And after returning in a difficult spot from a 141-day layoff
Saturday, the bay daughter of Gun Runner is eligible to keep moving forward next
time.

She will be the one to catch in the 1 1/8-mile Kentucky Oaks.

Favored at 1-9 odds, Echo Zulu sped to the fore from the
starting gate, leading by about a length during the opening stages. Rachel
Alexandra (G2) winner Turnerloose stalked in second, and Hidden Connection and
Favor also raced within striking range.

Echo Zulo straightened for home with a clear advantage, but Hidden
Connection had started to make headway by midstretch and rallied boldly to just
miss. Favor wound up 2 1/4 lengths back in third, and Turnerloose, Sequist, and
Bernabreeze completed the order of finish.

A convincing winner of the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies
(G1) at Del Mar, Kentucky-bred Echo Zulu also posted easy tallies in the
Frizette (G1) at Belmont Park and Spinaway (G1) at Saratoga last year. The
$300,000 yearling purchase has now earned $1,720,000.