2017 Kentucky Derby: J Boys Echo Pedigree Profile

J Boys Echo scored a 3 ½-length triumph in the Gotham Stakes (G3) and joined the list of 2017 Kentucky Derby Contenders.

The Dale Romans trainee settled on the rail in mid-pack early. Robby Albarado angled the bay colt to the outside and circled the tiring pace setter El Areeb, and pace pressers True Timber and Cloud Computing. J Boys Echo easily widened his lead by 3 ½ lengths under the wire, completing 1 1/16 miles in 1:46.54. Cloud Computing stayed on to place second, 7 ½ lengths ahead of the leg weary El Areeb.

J Boys Echo (Mineshaft - Letgomyecho, by Menifee) was bred by Betz/Blackburn/J. Betz/Ramsby/CNHHNK. Albaugh Family Stable picked the son of Mineshaft out of the Keeneland September Yearling Sale for $485,000.

J Boys Echo placed in his debut and won his second start last October. A month later, he placed fourth in the Delta Downs Jackpot Stakes (G3) behind eventual Fountain of Youth (G2) hero Gunnevera. For the colt’s first start this year, Dale Romans sent him into the Wither’s Stakes (G-3), where he made up ground to finish third behind El Areeb and True Timber. J Boy’s Echo has compiled a 5-2-1-1 ($299,600) race record and is in third place on the 2017 Kentucky Derby Leaderboard with 53 Derby Qualifying Points.

Sire

Mineshaft (A.P. Indy - Prospectors Delite, by Mr. Prospector) was a mid-May foal and didn’t make it to the races until he was a three-year-old.  The colt made seven starts in Europe. He finished third in the Group 3 Prix Daphnis, but his record over turf was middling. Shipping to the US late in his three-year-old season, Mineshaft immediately took to the dirt, winning two allowance races for trainer Neil Howard by a combined 4 ½ lengths.

The following year, the large, powerful colt raced nine times, conquering his rivals in seven races and finishing second twice. He took home trophies from the Jockey Club Gold Cup, Pimlico Special, Suburban Handicap, Woodward Stakes and was second by a head in the Stephen Foster. Despite retiring before the Breeders’ Cup Classic due to injury, Mineshaft’s seven victories in nine starts ensured him 2003 Eclipse Awards for Horse of the Year and Champion Older Horse. His record upon retirement was 18-10-3-1 ($2,283,402).

Mineshaft’s progeny are later maturing.  Some of his offspring win at short distances if their distaff families are sprinters. However, most prefer running a mile or longer. Mineshaft has sired 17 winners at 1 ¼ miles or farther.  Close to 80% of his offspring race over the dirt and Mineshaft is considered an above average mud sire.

Mineshaft’s most accomplished progeny include Effinex, winner of the Clark Handicap (G1) at 1 1/8 miles and the 1 ½ mile Excelsior Stakes (G3); Multiple Grade 1 heroine It’s Tricky; Florida Derby victor Dialed In and Vosburgh Stakes (G1) winner Discreetly Mine. 

None of Mineshaft’s offspring have won a classic race. His son Nehro came closest, bested by 2 ¾ lengths by Animal Kingdom in the 2011 Kentucky Derby. Mineshaft’s son Dialed In is made headlines as a top Freshman Sire and his son Gunnevera is the Kentucky Derby Points leader.

Female Family

J Boys Echo immediate family is filled with minor blacktype sprinter-milers. However, he has some classy distant relatives, and his fourth dam was 1956 Co-Champion Juvenile Filly Leallah.

Letgomyecho (Menifee - Echo Echo Echo, by Eastern Echo) faced the starter only four times but was victorious in three starts. The dark bay filly had plenty of promise, triumphing in her three victories, including the Forward Gal Stakes (G3) by a combined ten lengths.  Letgomyecho finished a surprising fifth in the Ashland Stakes (G1) and was retired afterward.

J Boys Echo is the eighth foal and first stakes winner produced by Letgomyecho. Six of his half siblings have faced the starter, four are winners, and J Boys Echo’s half brother Unbridled Outlaw (Unbridled’s Song) was third in the 2015 Iroquois Stakes (G3) as a juvenile. A half sister bore multiple stakes placed Deputy’s Echo (Badge of Silver). The colt finished third in two stakes, including the one-mile Mind That Bird Stakes at Sunland Park.

J Boys Echo’s second dam Echo Echo Echo is also the second dam of One Lucky Dane, (Lookin At Lucky) Who was second in the 2015 Santa Anita Derby (G1). His half brother Western Smoke won the Sapling (G3) as a juvenile. Class skips a generation in J Boys Echo’s third generation, but his fourth generation produced the multiple G1 winning turfers Singletary and Voodoo Dancer.

The fifth dam of J Boys Echo is Leallah, the champion juvenile filly of 1956.

Damsire

The well-bred Menifee (Harlan - Anne Campbell, by Never Bend) was by a G1 winning sprinter son of Storm Cat out of the 1999 broodmare of the year, Anne Campbell. He was a half-brother to the multiple G1 winner Desert Wine, who finished second in the Kentucky Derby and Preakness Stakes.

Menifee won or placed in ten starts. His only off the board placing came in the 1999 Belmont Stakes. After capturing the Blue Grass Stakes, Menifee emulated his older brother Desert Wine, finishing second in the Kentucky Derby and Preakness Menifee’s last victory was in the Haskell Invitational (G1), and he placed in the Travers (G1) and Super Derby (G1).

Despite his breeding, Menifee just didn’t hack it as a stallion. His most accomplished runner is the G1 winning sprinter, Game Face. Menifee’s daughters are more accomplished on the track than his sons. Overall, he sired 15 stakes winners in the U.S. before shipping to stand in Korea. The bulk of Menifee’s offspring are miler types. He got one winner at 1 ¼ miles.

Menifee’s daughters have produced 180 winners from 262 starters and eight stakes winners. The stakes winners are milers, although two, the full siblings Derby Kitten and William’s Kitten, have won at 1 1/8 furlongs.

Expectations

J Boys Echo has the pedigree to handle 1 1/8 miles and could possibly get 1 ¼ miles with the right trip.

J Boys Echo apears to physicallly resembles his damsire. He's a well-proportioned, averaged sized colt who isn't overly muscular. J Boys Echo has good leg and body extension and noticeable acceleration when asked to go. He has the ability to rate, but J Boys Echo appears very intense when he runs. When he breaks from the gate, his ears are flat against his head and stay that way throughout the race. I noticed on the gallop out that J Boys Echo would pin his ears when another colt passed him. It takes energy to be that focused and could be his downfall at longer distances against tougher competition.

J Boys Echo benefited from a solid early pace in the Gotham. He may go against tougher shippers in the Wood Memorial. The Gotham victors who compete in the Wood Memorial settle for a lesser placing. The last Gotham winner to capture the Wood Memorial was I Want Revenge in 2009.

If Dale Romans points J Boy’s Echo to the Blue Grass Stakes instead, he may face Classic Empire and McCraken.

J Boy’s Echo has a nice pedigree, and there’s no doubting his competitiveness, but the Gotham Stakes winners, overall, have been a cut below the top competition. Let’s see how J Boy’s Echo handles more accomplished colts at 1 1/8 miles before proclaiming him a Derby winner.