Grade 1 winner EASTERN ECHO (Damascus) died Tuesday morning of an apparent
heart attack at Shamrock Farms near Woodbine, Maryland. The 16-year-old stallion
was preparing to stand the 2005 breeding season at Maryland Stallion Station
near Glyndon, Maryland, for a live-foal fee of $3,500 after a three-year stay at Shamrock.
The bay stallion has produced 22 stakes winners, most notably Grade 1 winners
Buddy Gill and Swiss Yodeler. Buddy Gil won the Santa Anita Derby (G1), San Felipe S. (G2) and Baldwin S. (G3)
last year. Swiss Yodeler, a successful California sire, captured the 1996 Hollywood
Futurity (G1), Hollywood Juvenile Championship S. (G2), Best Pal S. (G3) and two
other black-type events during his racing career.
From 11 crops of racing age, Eastern Echo has sired at least 315 starters and
228 winners who have earned more than $18.2 million.
During his brief racing career, Eastern Echo was undefeated in three starts at two, including a victory in
the Futurity S. (G1) at Belmont Park. Owned by Rokeby Stable and trained by Mack
Miller, he retired with earnings of $93,960.
Out of the Grade 2-winning Northern Dancer mare Wild Applause, the
Virginia-bred Eastern Echo
is a half-brother to Grade 2 winners Roar (Forty Niner) and Yell (A.P. Indy) and
Grade 3 winner Blare of Trumpets (Fit to Fight). His second dam is Broodmare of
the Year Glowing Tribute (Graustark), who is a direct female descendant of
Admiring (Hail to Reason) and Searching (War Admiral).