BY BROCK SHERIDAN
Multiple graded stakes-placed around three turns on grass, Florida-bred Echo Lane will make his first start in three months Friday in the $400,000 Sycamore (Grade 2) going a mile-a-half on the Keeneland turf. Trained by Rohan Crichton, Echo Lane has post five in an overflow field of 16 3-year-olds and older, including four on the also-eligible list.
Echo Lane began 2026 with a fifth in the $75,000 Sunshine Turf going a mile-and-a-sixteenth at Gulfstream Park on January 17 but has raced exclusively at marathon distances on the grass in five races since. The next two came at Gulfstream, first when second to Grand Sonata in the Grade 2 Mac Diarmida presented by FanDuel TV going 11 furlongs on February 28 then was third to Far Bridge in the Grade 3 Pan American presented by Rood & Riddle at a mile-and-a-half on March 28.
Crichton shipped the 5-year-old horse to Churchill for his next two where he chased home Burnham Square both times when third in the mile-and-one-half Louisville (G3) on May 26 and when fourth in the mile-and-three-eighths Chorleywood (Listed) on June 13.
Echo Lane was again fourth in the mile-and-three-eighths United Nations (G2) going a mile-and-three-eighths on the Monmouth Park green on July 18 before given some time before Friday.
Echo Lane is by Treasure Beach (GB) out of Misbehavin Miss, by Mineshaft and was bred in Florida by Echo Lane of Ocala.
He was claimed by Crichton for $25,000 in December of 2023 out of a third-place finish versus maidens in his seventh start and has since won eight with four seconds and eight thirds in 24 races. He is owned by Anthony Rogers and sports a career bankroll of $652,380.
Brian Hernandez Jr. will ride Echo Lane for the first time and they are listed at 12-1 on the morning line.
Just a Touch has won three of his last four including his last race, a head victory in the $153,000 Colonial Cup going a mile-and-a-half on the inner turf at Colonial Downs on September 7. The 5-year-old horse is one-for-one on the Keeneland sod with a win in a mile-and-a-sixteenth allowance race on April 16. He was next a three-and-a-half-length victory in the Listed Cape Henlopen at a mile-and-a-half on the turf at Delaware Park on June 13. His only loss in his last four came when seventh after setting the pace in the United Nations.
As a 3-year-old, Just a Touch was second in the Gotham (G3), Toyota Blue Grass (G1) and Iowa Derby (Listed). He started in that year’s Kentucky Derby presented by Woodford Reserve (G1) and finished last of 20.
Just a Touch has earned $993,408, most coming for current owners Qatar Racing, Fergus Galvin, Adrian Regan and Marc Detampel. Gavin purchased Just a Touch for $300,000 out of the 2023 Ocala Breeders’ Sales Spring Sale where he was consigned by David Sanlon’s Scanlon Training and Sales based in Ocala, Florida.
Just a Touch is the 5-2 morning line favorite and will break from post two with Irad Ortiz Jr. up. He is trained by Brad Cox.
Also entered are Goldeneye with Edwin Maldonado named to ride, Joseph Ramos has the call on Mercante, Navy Seal (Ire) will have jockey Jose Ortiz, English Actor teams with Junior Alvarado, Luis Saez will guide Limited Liability, Javier Castellano will be aboard Tiz Dashing, Layabout will have Keith Asmussen in the saddle, Vote No teams with Umberto Rispoli, Luan Machado has the engagement on Desvio and Rothschild will carry Alex Concepcion. Lambeth, Sumood, Carcano and Ur Benja make up the also eligibles.
Return to the October 8 issue of Wire to Wire
