Works tab: Echo Zulu continues preparations for 2023 debut

Three-time Grade 1 winner Echo Zulu continued her preparations for her 2023 debut on Friday, covering four furlongs in 50.6 seconds at Churchill Downs for Hall of Fame trainer Steve Asmussen.

It was the 36th fastest of 38 works at the distance.

The 4-year-old daughter of Gun Runner, who captured the 2021 Juvenile Filly Eclipse Award, has not started since her runner-up effort to 2022 Eclipse Award-winning female sprinter in the Breeders' Cup Filly and Mare Sprint at Keeneland on Nov. 5.

Friday's work was the third four-furlong move since she recorded her first timed workout at Fair Grounds on March 27. Asmussen has not yet identified a target race for her return to the races.

Echo Zulu has won six of her eight starts, including victories in the Grade 1 Breeders' Cup Juvenile Filles, the Frizette and Spinaway in 2021, and compiled more than $2.1 million in earnings for owners L and N Racing and Winchell Thoroughbreds. 

Other graded-stakes winners recording timed workouts on Friday:

Santin (Distorted Humor), a two-time Grade 1 winner (2022 Arlington Million, 2022 Turf Classic), worked five furlongs in 1:01.4 at Turfway Park on Friday morning. It was the ninth fastest of 21 works at the distance. His previous work was eight days ago going four furlongs at Turfway Park. In his last start he placed fourth in the Kentucky Cup Classic going 1 1/8 miles on the synthetic at Turfway Park on March 25 for trainer Brendan Walsh.

Rich Strike (Keen Ice), a Grade 1 winner (2022 Kentucky Derby) worked five furlongs in 59.8 seconds at Keeneland on Friday morning. It was the fastest of 24 works at the distance. His previous work was nine days ago going five furlongs at Keeneland. In his last start he placed sixth in the Clark (G1) going 1 1/8 miles on the main track at Churchill Downs on Nov. 25 for trainer Eric R. Reed.

Related: Rich Strike has bullet work in preparation for Alysheba

A Mo Reay (Uncle Mo), a Grade 1 winner (2023 Beholder Mile), worked five furlongs in 1:01.4 at Churchill Downs on Friday morning. It was the 28th fastest of 42 works at the distance. Her previous work was six days ago going four furlongs at Churchill Downs. In her last start she won the Beholder Mile (G1) going one mile on the main track at Santa Anita on March 11 for trainer Brad Cox.

Spendarella (Karakontie), a Grade 1 winner (2022 Del Mar Oaks), worked six furlongs in 1:14.4 at Fair Hill on Friday morning. It was the fastest of three works at the distance. Her previous work was six days ago going five furlongs at Fair Hill. In her last start she won the Del Mar Oaks (G1) going 1 1/8 miles on the turf at Del Mar on Aug. 20 for trainer Graham Motion.

City Man (Mucho Macho Man), a Grade 2 winner (2022 Ft. Lauderdale), worked three furlongs in 39.2 seconds at Belmont Park on Friday morning. It was the 12th fastest of 17 works at the distance. This was his first work since his last race. In his last start he placed 12th in the Pegasus World Cup Turf Invitational (G1) going 1 1/8 miles on the turf at Gulfstream Park on Jan. 28 for trainer Christophe Clement.

Pretty Mischievous (Into Mischief), a Grade 2 winner (2023 Rachel Alexandra), worked five furlongs in 1:02.0 at Churchill Downs on Friday morning. It was the 34th fastest of 42 works at the distance. Her previous work was seven days ago going four furlongs at Keeneland. In her last start she placed second in the Fair Grounds Oaks (G2) going 1 1/16 miles on the main track at Fair Grounds on March 25 for trainer Brendan Walsh.

Ready to Purrform (Kitten's Joy), a Grade 2 winner (2022 National Museum of Racing Hall of Fame), worked four furlongs in 48.8 seconds at Keeneland on Friday morning. It was the 29th fastest of 73 works at the distance. His previous work was six days ago going five furlongs at Keeneland. In his last start he placed sixth in the Colonel E. R. Bradley going 1 1/16 miles on the turf at Fair Grounds on Jan. 21 for trainer Brad Cox.

Hoosier Philly (Into Mischief), a Grade 2 winner (2022 Golden Rod), worked five furlongs in 59.2 seconds at Churchill Downs on Friday morning. It was the third fastest of 42 works at the distance. Her previous work was nine days ago going five furlongs at Churchill Downs. In her last start she placed fourth in the Fair Grounds Oaks (G2) going 1 1/16 miles on the main track at Fair Grounds on March 25 for trainer Tom Amoss.

Double Crown (Bourbon Courage), a Grade 2 winner (2022 Kelso Handicap), worked three furlongs in 36.2 seconds at Laurel Park on Friday morning. It was the ninth fastest of 30 works at the distance. His previous work was 14 days ago going five furlongs at Laurel Park. In his last start he placed second in the Harrison E. Johnson Memorial going one mile on the main track at Laurel Park on March 18 for trainer Norman L. Cash.

Rated R Superstar (Kodiak Kowboy), a three-time Grade 3 winner (2022 Essex Handicap, 2018 Ben Ali, 2016 Carry Back), worked five furlongs in 1:01.4 at Oaklawn on Friday morning. It was the 10th fastest of 21 works at the distance. His previous work was seven days ago going five furlongs at Oaklawn. In his last start he placed seventh in the Essex Handicap (G3) going 1 1/16 miles on the main track at Oaklawn on March 18 for trainer Martin Villafranco.

Wet Paint (Blame) a two-time Grade 3 winner (2023 Fantasy, 2023 Honeybee), worked four furlongs in 48.0 seconds at Churchill Downs on Friday morning. It was the eighth fastest of 38 works at the distance. This was her first work since her last race. In her last start she won the Fantasy (G3) going 1 1/16 miles on the main track at Oaklawn on April 1 for trainer Brad Cox.

Played Hard (Into Mischief), a two-time Grade 3 winner (2022 Falls City, 2022 Locust Grove), worked five furlongs in 59.0 seconds at Churchill Downs on Friday morning. It was the fastest of 42 works at the distance. Her previous work was six days ago going four furlongs at Churchill Downs. In her last start she won the Falls City (G3) going 1 1/8 miles on the main track at Churchill Downs on Nov. 24 for trainer Philip A. Bauer.

She Can't Sing (Bernardini), a Grade 3 winner (2022 Chilukki), worked five furlongs in 1:00.6 at Hawthorne on Friday morning. It was the fastest of 23 works at the distance. Her previous work was six days ago going four furlongs at Hawthorne. In her last start she placed fourth in the Tom Benson Memorial going 1 1/16 miles on the turf at Fair Grounds on March 25 for trainer Chris M. Block.

Curly Jack (Good Magic), a Grade 3 winner (2022 Iroquois), worked five furlongs in 59.8 seconds at Churchill Downs on Friday morning. It was the fourth fastest of 42 works at the distance. This was his first work since his last race. In his last start he placed 11th in the Louisiana Derby (G2) going 1 3/16 miles on the main track at Fair Grounds on March 25 for trainer Tom Amoss.

Sittin On Go (Brody's Cause), a Grade 3 winner (2020 Iroquois), worked five furlongs in 1:00.2 at Los Alamitos on Friday morning. It was the second fastest of nine works at the distance. His previous work was 12 days ago going five furlongs at Los Alamitos. In his last start he placed sixth in a starter allowance race going seven furlongs on the main track at Santa Anita on March 4 for trainer Milton G. Pineda.

Derby prospects' works

Confidence Game (Candy Ride), a Grade 2 winner (2023 Rebel), worked one mile in 1:38.2 at Churchill Downs on Friday morning. It was the lone work at the distance. His previous work was six days ago going five furlongs at Churchill Downs. In his last start he won the Rebel (G2) going 1 1/16 miles on the main track at Oaklawn on Feb. 25 for trainer Keith Desormeaux.

Kingsbarns (Uncle Mo), a Grade 2 winner (2023 Louisiana Derby), worked four furlongs in 49.4 seconds at Palm Beach Downs on Friday morning. It was the seventh fastest of 11 works at the distance. His previous work was seven days ago going four furlongs at Palm Beach Downs. In his last start he won the Louisiana Derby (G2) going 1 3/16 miles on the main track at Fair Grounds on March 25 for trainer Todd Pletcher.

Forte (Violence), a four-time Grade 1 winner, worked four furlongs in 50.2 seconds at Palm Beach Downs on Friday morning. It was the eighth fastest of 11 works at the distance. This was his first work since his last race. In his last start he won the Florida Derby (G1) going 1 1/8 miles on the main track at Gulfstream Park on April 1 for trainer Todd Pletcher.