Zipse: Wishing for 1 female vs. male showdown in Breeders’ Cup

The anticipation continues to build as we are less than six weeks from the 2023 Breeders’ Cup at Santa Anita. Most division championships are settled there on the square, and this year should be no different.

Of all this year’s races, the one I am most intrigued by is the $2 million Breeders’ Cup Sprint and the potential showdown between Echo Zulu and Elite Power.

Elite Power is the defending champion of the race and always was expected, but it is the addition of the filly that would make this race an instant classic. As first reported by David Grening of Daily Racing Form, the connections of Echo Zulu are planning on running against the males in the Breeders’ Cup Sprint.

Both Echo Zulu and Elite Power are already champions and could well be winners of an Eclipse Award again no matter who wins on Nov. 4. They both also will be in search of a second win at the Breeders’ Cup.

In a season of uncertainty in many divisions, it would come as no surprise to see the Breeders’ Cup Sprint winner also taking home the horse-of-the-year award.

One of the six Grade 1 winners from the first crop of Gun Runner, Echo Zulu was the undefeated champion 2-year-old filly of 2021. She is no stranger to Southern California racing, having clinched her championship with a dominant victory in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies at Del Mar.

After suffering a pair of losses at 3, when she ran well but came up a little short in the Kentucky Oaks (G1) and Breeders’ Cup Filly & Mare Sprint, a more mature version of Echo Zulu has developed into an even better racehorse at age 4.

Overpowering victories in the Winning Colors (G3) and Honorable Miss (G2) began the year for the champion. It was her most recent win in Saratoga’s Ballerina (G1), when she easily avenged her defeat at the hands of Goodnight Olive in last year’s Breeders’ Cup, where Echo Zulu threw her hat in the ring as a potential horse-of-the-year candidate.

Owned by L and N Racing and Winchell Thoroughbreds and trained by Steve Asmussen, her form in 2023 has been so good in each of her three wins that her connections have plenty of reason to challenge the boys at Santa Anita.

Echo Zulu boasts a record of nine wins in 11 starts, all but one of those in graded stakes. The champion appears to be better than ever as she approaches her biggest test yet.

And then you have Elite Power. As much as I have hyped up the potential matchup, it seems odd that one of the horses lost its most recent race, but it’s hard to fault the big chestnut too much.

Before being unable to run down a loose-on-the-lead Gunite in the Forego (G1), he had defeated that classy rival twice this year. In fact, prior to his second-place finish last month, he had defeated everyone who had come his way.

A 5-year-old son of Curlin trained by Bill Mott, Elite Power was far from the precocious type that Echo Zulu was. He did not run at 2 and only made two starts at 3. Developing into his powerful frame as an older horse, he broke his maiden June 5 last year at Churchill Downs in his fourth career start.

That victory was where the fun really began. Elite Power rattled off seven more consecutive wins, including five graded stakes highlighted by a convincing score in the 2022 Breeders’ Cup Sprint at Keeneland.

Owned by Juddmonte, the powerhouse, late runner was an impressive 3-for-3 this year before running second to a strong opponent who enjoyed a clear pace advantage. In other words the eight-race winning streak may have been broken, but it did little to tarnish the champion’s image. 

True popcorn material, a matchup between Echo Zulu and Elite Power would offer a little bit of everything. Male vs. female. Champion vs. champion. Blazing early speed vs. ferocious late runner. 

Not only will the prestige and cash of the top prize in the Breeders’ Cup Sprint be on the line at Santa Anita, but a matchup between Echo Zulu and Elite Power could be the decider for several Eclipse Awards.

It also could be the highlight of the entire 14-race extravaganza.