BY BROCK SHERIDAN
Anthony Rogers’ Echo Lane returns to stakes action Friday at Colonial Downs as the Florida-bred colt looks to upset the Grade 3 New Kent County Virginia Derby. With morning line odds of 15-1, Echo Lane is among a dozen 3-year-olds who will go a mile-and-an-eighth on the Secretariat turf course in pursuit of the winner’s share of the $500,000 purse.
Trainer Rohan Crichton sent Echo Lane through a successful final prep for the Virginia Derby with a head victory in a $25,000 starter allowance going nine furlongs on the Colonial Downs turf on Aug. 17. The son of Treasure Beach (GB) has won three of his last five starts with his only losses coming against black-type company.
After winning a $35,000 optional claiming starter allowance on synthetic in April, Echo Lane took a first condition, $20,000 optional claiming on the turf in May, both at Gulfstream Park.
Crichton then sent Echo Lane to Pimlico for the $100,000 James W. Murphy going a mile on the grass on May 18. After being steadied at the start and fanned seven-wide in the second turn, he finished fifth behind winner and Virginia Derby entrant Flumineo.
Echo Lane returned to the Gulfstream synthetic to finish fourth in the $75,000 Not Surprising won by In a Jam, who is also entered for the Virginia Derby, before going to Colonial to win his last race.
Echo Lane is out of Misbehavin Miss, by Mineshaft and was bred by Echo Lane Of Ocala LLC. He sports a career ledger of four wins, two seconds and three thirds from 15 starts with earnings of $146,903.
He has post nine and Antonio Gallardo will ride.
Since winning the Not Surprising, In a Jam has two starts in stakes going a mile on the inner turf at Colonial.
The Mark Casse-trained son of Preservationist finished fourth in the $127,000 Boston won by Fulmineo on June 12 and third in the Grade 2 Secretariat won by Trikari on Aug. 11.
In a Jam has won three with three seconds and four thirds in 14 career starts while earning $259,941 for owner Gary Barber.
He is 6-1 on the morning line and will be ridden from post six by Mychel Sanchez.
After winning the James W. Murphy and Boston, Fulmineo took on Grade 1 company in the mile-and-three-sixteenths Saratoga Derby Invitational on the grass at Saratoga Race Course on Aug. 11. He prompted the pace early but faded to finish sixth behind winner Carson’s Run in his last race.
Fulmineo is 15-1 in the program for trainer Arnaud Delacour and owners Starlight Racing and Mark B. Grier. He has post 11 and will be ridden by Victor Carrasco.
Rounding out the field for the Virginia Derby are Herchee and jockey Edgar Morales, Grand Mo the First has Paco Lopez named to ride, Deterministic and rider Manny Franco, Izzy d’Oro with David Cohen aboard, Vincent Cheminaud will guide Frontline Warrior, Desvio will have Ben Curtis in the irons, Massif and jockey Sheldon Russell, Martin Garcia has the call on Oscar’s World and Jorge Ruiz will be in the saddle on Zverev.
