'She's in excellent shape' - unbeaten Echo Zulu out to justify hot favouritism

Friday: 10.30 Del Mar
Netjets Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies (Grade 1, dirt) | 1m½f | 2yo fillies | ITV4/RTV/Sky

Echo Zulu will need to overcome the poor record of favourites in the Juvenile Fillies if she's to emulate her sire in becoming a Breeders' Cup winner for Steve Asmussen.

Since 2010, only My Miss Aurelia and Songbird have won this race as the favourite, with four winners priced at 20-1 or bigger.

Echo Zulu is a perfect three from three after bolting up in a pair of Grade 1 races after her debut success, latterly in the Frizette at Belmont, where she successfully stepped up in distance for the second time.

She is from the first crop of Gun Runner, who won the 2017 Classic on the way to becoming US Horse of the Year, and what she's achieved on the track suggests she can chalk one up for favourite backers.

Joel Rosario, who has ridden two of the last three winners of this race, is likely to utilise her strong early pace from the widest stall as she tackles two turns for the first time, and the tight bends at Del Mar will give her the best possible chance of getting home in front.

Her main dangers are the unbeaten Hidden Connection, who should stalk the pace under Reylu Gutierrez, and Alcibiades winner Juju's Map. The latter represents Brad Cox, who won this race in 2019 with British Idiom.
Race analysis by Owen Goulding

What they say

Phil D'Amato, trainer of Desert Dawn
She broke her maiden going two turns against some nice horses. In the Chandelier Stakes the track was speed-favouring yet she was the only horse to make up ground in the stretch. She's got a long, fluid stride and seems to float over the track. I think she can compete at this level.

Bret Calhoun, trainer of Hidden Connection
She's got a lot of confidence and we have a lot of confidence in her. I think she's a very good filly and I'm hoping we have a safe, clean trip.

Cherie DeVaux, trainer of Tarabi
She didn't really miss any time after hitting the gate in the Spinaway as we kept her in light training, but we had to miss the Frizette or the Alcibiades. She's doing well and we're going to give it a shot.

Brad Cox, trainer of Juju's Map
She's doing great. She's trained extremely well at Churchill Downs and we're excited about this opportunity. I thought she drew well and I feel very confident she can get the distance. I'm excited about the race.

Steve Asmussen, trainer of Echo Zulu
She's coming into the race in excellent shape. She's been nice and relaxed and we're very excited. It would mean everything to have a champion for Gun Runner in his first crop and it would be a very proud accomplishment.
Reporting by Richard Forristal at Del Mar

Read more on day one of the Breeders' Cup

9.50 Del Mar: 'I chose the wrong race in England' - Wesley Ward's warning to Euro hopefuls

11.10 Del Mar: Strong European contingent hold solid claims in open-looking contest

11.50 Del Mar: Can Bob Baffert join D Wayne Lukas among the Breeders' Cup Juvenile kings?

12.30 Del Mar: Charlie Appleby bullish about Modern Games - and rightly so

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