BY BROCK SHERIDAN
Anthony Roger’s Echo Lane, a winner of half of his races on the Churchill Downs turf and is five-for-six in the top three there, returns for a Friday engagement under the Twin Spires in a $175,000 optional claiming scheduled for a mile-and-a-sixteenth on the grass. Six 3-year-olds and older will vie for the winner’s share of a $148,000 purse.
Trainer Rohan Crichton has the 5-year-old Florida-bred horse making his second start after a nearly three-month layoff, looking for easier company after finishing ninth of 12 in the Grade 2 Sycamore going a mile-and-a-half on the Keeneland turf on October 9. Before the break he was fourth in the Grade 2 United Nations at the same distance on the Monmouth Park green on July 18.
In seven previous starts this year, all in grass stakes, five of which are graded, Echo Lane has a second in the 11-furlong Mac Diarmida (G2) in February and a third in the mile-and-a-half Pan American (G3) in March, both at Gulfstream Park. He was also third in the mile-and-a-half Louisville (G3) at Churchill in May 16 and fourth in the $217,000 Chorleywood (Listed) going a mile-and-three-eigths on June 13.
Echo Lane is a two-time winner of the Claiming Crown Emerald in 2024 and 2025 going a mile-and-a-sixteenth on the Churchill sod.
A winner of eight of 32 career starts with four seconds and eight thirds, the consistent son of Treasure Beach (GB) has racked up $656,130 during his 32-race career.
He is out of Misbehaving Miss, by Mineshaft and was bred in Florida by Echo Lane of Ocala, who stand to earn a $3,000 Export Incentive check from the Florida Thoroughbred Breeders’ and Owners’ Association for an out-of-state victory at this level.
Luis Saez will ride Echo Lane from post two and they are 10-1 on the morning line.
Encino, winner of the $99,000 Avery Whisman Memorial on the synthetic course at Presque Isle Downs on August 10, has since finished third in the mile-and-one-sixteenth, $148,000 Presque Isle Downs Mile won by Florida-bred Neoequos on September 18.
Trained by Brad Cox, the Godolphin homebred is winless in two previous starts on the Churchill Downs grass, the last a fourth-place finish in a $175,000 optional claiming at a mile-and-a-sixteenth in May. He was a ninth of 11 in the nine-furlong River City (G3) on the Churchill Downs turf in November of last year.
A 5-year-old son of Nyquist, Encino has won eight of 18 career starts with two seconds and two thirds for earnings of $891,053.
He is the morning line favorite at 9-5 and will start from stall three with Tyler Gaffalione aboard.
Rounding out the field are Neat with Junior Alvarado up, Air Recruit and jockey Brian Hernandez Jr., Jose Ortiz has the call on Johny’s Rendezvous and Kieth Asmussen will guide Yinzer.
Return to the November 5 issue of Wire to Wire
