The case for J Boys Echo
June 9th, 2017
Trainer Dale Romans has been saddling sophomores in classic races for some time and the Belmont Stakes has been a great canvas for his horses, with conditioner amassing four 3rd-place finishes in the daunting test. A trio have come over the past six years and given the question marks surrounding the 2017 field, Romans could be poised to finally break through in the “Test of the Champion.”
J Boys Echo is as inconsistent as most in his crop -- he looked like a star in the making when defeating Cloud Computing in the Gotham romp three back -- but followed with a pair of subpar showings. His profile is not that much different that many in his division, though.
A $485,000 yearling purchase, the colt is out of a mare that could have been almost any kind in Letgomyecho, who rolled home to a trio of fine wins to start her career for George “Rusty” Arnold, including a decisive tally in the 2005 Forward Gal (G2) at Gulfstream Park. A poor showing and subsequent injury derailed the racing career of the daughter of Menifee, though it’s hard to doubt her class and what could have been for the talented distaffer.
From a visual standpoint, the Gotham remains one of the more impressive races from a 3-year-old this campaign and J Boys Echo has both the pedigree and running style to suggest 1 ½ miles will be a good fit. We know he likes the Empire State and the Mineshaft colt appears to be peaking presently, posting a recent breeze at Belmont that had Romans gushing, “I think this is the best he's ever worked.”
It was reported earlier in the week that celebrity chef Bobby Flay purchased a portion of J Boys Echo, a tactic eerily similar to last year when Flay bought a minority interest in Creator just days prior to his upset win in the Belmont. I think Flay can “cook up” another Belmont winner, with J Boys Echo finishing best of all.
Check out the 2017 Belmont Stakes News & Notes page at the TwinSpires Blog
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