'Lame' Echo Zulu is scratched before Matareya wins Acorn

Elmont, N.Y.

Jockey Joel Rosario something was not right with Eclipse Award winner Echo Zulu going into Saturday's Grade 1, $500,000 Acorn Stakes.

A veterinarian then confirmed the suspicion.

"The filly was lame in her left front," said Dr. Anthony Verderosa, director of New York Racing Association veterinarians after he scratched Echo Zulu, who was the 2-5 favorite at the time.

That came as news to trainer Steve Asmussen.

"We had the doctor X-ray everything on her," he said about three hours later after his filly Clairiere won the Ogden Phipps (G1). "She X-rayed clean. For whatever reason, that was completely out of our hands."

Minutes after the scratch, with only four 3-year-old fillies left to run the one-turn mile, Matareya (1-5) ran away to a 6 1/4-length victory in the first Grade 1 race on Belmont Stakes day.

Flavien Prat rode the Brad Cox-trained, Pioneerof the Nile filly to an immediate lead and never trailed on a fast track that was kind to early speed and rail sitters in the first three races Saturday. Her winning time of 1:35.77 after early fractions of 23.37, 46.40 and 1:10.68.

Divine Mistress (6-1) finished second followed by Dream Lith (10-1) another 5 1/2 lengths back in third and Inventing (3-1) drifting in last, 27 3/4 lengths behind Matareya, who has won her last four races.

"I think this sets her up well for the Test next," said Cox, who was referring to the Grade 1 race Aug. 6 at Saratoga.

Echo Zulu had been looking to rebound from her fourth-place finish in the Kentucky Oaks (G1). It was her first loss for Asmussen after she had won her first five starts, including the Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies last fall at Del Mar.