BC Juvenile Fillies analysis: Echo Zulu is a superstar in the making

Six accomplished 2-year-olds will fight it out in Friday's seventh race at Del Mar, the $2 million Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies. The winner of the 1 1/16-mile Grade 1 event will earn year-end championship honors and be installed as the early favorite for next year's Kentucky Oaks.

6.  Echo Zulu (4-5) is the class of the Juvenile Fillies, and we could be watching a superstar in the making. The undefeated winner of the Spinaway (G1) and Frizette (G1) has never been challenged. She exuded class in her Oct. 22 five-furlong work at Santa Anita in company with Hopeful (G1) victor Gunite. Echo Zulu moved the easier of the pair, and the colt stayed a respectful half-length behind her despite urging.  The Steve Asmussen trainee has to pass the two-turn test and could be hounded through quick early fractions.

Pedigree: Echo Zulu (Gun Runner - Letgomyecho, by Menifee) is racing royalty. By hot new sire Gunrunner, Echo Zulu is the latest stakes winner in a family of sprinter/milers. Her dam Grade 2-winning sprinter Letgomyecho is a terrific producer, giving us Grade 1-winning sprinter Echo Town,  multiple graded sprinter/miler J Boys Echo, plus a pair of precocious graded placed runners, Unbridled Outlaw and Dragic. Additionally, Echo Zulu's half-sisters bore this year's Triple Bend (G1) runner-up Shooters Shoot and Deputy's Echo, who is multiple listed-placed between 5 1/2-furlongs and 1 1/8-miles. Win contender.

5. Juju's Map (5-2) is Echo Zulu's main threat. The Brad Cox trainee was a little rank and hard-held when asked to rate behind the pacesetter in the Alcibiades Stakes (G1), but that didn't matter because when Florent Geroux let her loose, JuJu's Map stormed home a 4 3/4 winner. JuJu's Map has tactical speed and has answered the two-turn question. Although she could win it if Echo Zulu falters, JuJu's Map can't afford to expend energy fighting with her rider. Brad Cox's British Idiom won the Alcibiades in 2019 on her way to champion 2-year-old filly honors.

Pedigree: JuJu's Map (Liam's Map - Nagambie, by Flatter) is by the 2015 Breeders' Cup Mile hero out of a half-sister to Grade 1 winner Fault, a winner at nine furlongs. Win contender.

3. Sequist (15-1) made a sustained drive from the back of the full field in the Alcibiades Stakes to finish third, beaten a neck for second. The Dallas Stewart trainee is the one most likely to benefit if there's an early speed duel.

Pedigree: Sequist (Nyquist - Secret Garden (PER), by Flanders Fields) is by a Breeders' Cup Juvenile hero and Kentucky Derby winner out of a Peruvian Group 1 winning turf sprinter. Although her immediate family is international, Seaquist hails from the distaff line that produced champion and prominent sire Bernardini. Live long shot.

2. Hidden Connection (5-2) was an impressive 9 1/4 length winner of the Pocahontas (G3) in her second start. However, this is a case of "who did she beat?" Only one of her nine rivals hit the board in their next start. This Bret Calhoun filly has answered the two-turn question and is capable of sitting off the pace.

Pedigree: Hidden Connection (Connect - C J's Gal, by Awesome Again) is bred to love two turns, yet she had the speed to graduate at first asking sprinting at Colonial Downs. Hidden Connection is by a first-crop son of Curlin. Her second dam C J's LeeLee is multiple stakes-placed on dirt and turf and is a half-sister to Grade 1-winning sprinter Capo Bastone, who finished third in the 2012 Breeders' Cup Juvenile. Exotics.

4. Tarabi (12-1) smacked into the gate and stumbled slightly, coming out of post one in the Spinaway Stakes (G1). However, she benefited by a ground-saving trip and finished a clear second to Echo Zulu. The Cherie DeVaux trainee has a tactical running style and should handle 1 1/16 miles.

Pedigree: Tarabi (First Samurai - Indian Bay, by Indian Charlie) has a miler pedigree. Her full brother is a Group 3 winning sprinter/miler in Japan. Her second dam, Buy the Barrel won the Allaire Dupont Distaff (G2) at 1 1/16 miles, along with two listed stakes at the same distance. This family includes the gallant multiple graded winning handicap horse Demarcation, a winner of $687,929 in 44 starts. Exotics.

1. Desert Dawn (20-1) beat maidens at Del Mar by 4 1/4 lengths in August, and her competitors have yet to find the winner's circle. In her next start, the Philip D'Amato trainee was no match for Chandelier (G2) winner Ain't Easy and closed for a distant third place. However, Desert Dawn has experience around two turns and a victory at Del Mar. She's capable of moving forward off the Chandelier and offers value as a longshot. The drawback is that the rail may not be the place to be.

Pedigree:  Desert Dawn (Cupid - Ashley's Glory, by Honour and Glory) has a miler's pedigree. She's one of three black-type earners for her first-crop sire. Desert Dawn's half-brother Thegloryisallmine is a stakes-placed turf miler, and the blacktype earners in this distaff line are restricted sprinter miler types. Long shot exotics.

Analysis
Favorites have won the Juvenile Fillies only twice in the last decade; however, pacesetters have prevailed half of the time.

Echo Zulu looks like a sure winner, but we all know the old adage that there's no such thing as a sure winner. She has the speed to run them off their feet, but if Echo Zulu is pushed by JuJu's Map directly to her inside or even Hidden Connection, one of the closers could benefit.  

6. Echo Zulu (4-5)

5. JuJu's Map (5-2)

3. Sequist (15-1)

1 Desert Dawn (20-1)