THOR’S ECHO (Swiss Yodeler) entered Saturday’s $300,000
Frank J.
De Francis Memorial Dash S. (G1) as the surprise four-length victor of the
Breeders’ Cup Sprint (G1) on a mission to seal an Eclipse Award as champion
sprinter. After a gutsy win in the six-furlong De Francis, he has forged a
compelling case.
Crafty Schemer (Crafty Prospector) was quickest to the lead, setting splits
of :21 4/5 and :44 3/5, while Thor’s Echo and jockey Corey Nakatani
were content to stalk in fourth. Moving up four and five wide on the turn, Thor’s Echo entered the stretch drive full of run. Drifting in a bit
just before he struck the front, the chestnut gelding dug in to hold off the closing Diabolical (Artax),
posting a three-quarter of a length victory while stopping the clock in 1:08 3/5
on the fast dirt.
In complete contrast to his 15-1 odds in the Sprint, Thor’s Echo was sent off
the even-money favorite in this one, paying $4.20, $2.80 and $2.40. Diabolical
held second by a neck, returning $5.80 and $3.80 at 6-1 while ending the $29.20
exacta. Nightmare Affair (Out of Place) was steadied at the break and taken to
the back, but eventually rallied for third, giving back $2.60 and
finishing the $72.60 trifecta at 3-1. It was another 1 3/4 lengths back to
Crafty Schemer, who completed the $188.90 superfecta ($1) (9-1-5-2). Mach Speed
(A.P. Indy) was next and followed by Celtic Innis (Yarrow Brae), Attila’s Storm
(Forest Wildcat), Joey Carson (Lord Carson) and Coppertone Kid (Gold Case).
Prior to his Sprint victory, the four-year-old Thor’s Echo ran second in the Ancient Title
Breeders’ Cup Sprint (G1), Dubai Golden Shaheen (UAE-G1) and Sensational Star H.
Last year at three, he captured the WinStar Derby and Real Good Deal S.,
and he now boasts an 18-5-4-5 record with $2,372,990 in lifetime earnings.
“Everything has really gone well,” trainer Doug O’Neill said. “We knew we had
to do one more thing to be in contention for sprinter of the year and hopefully
his effort (here) will make him one of the three and we’ll see what happens.
“This horse has always been knocking on the door of being a champion. At
three he won the WinStar Derby. He was just beaten at Dubai this year. This
horse gives everything he has every time, and he’s a gelding so we don’t have to
worry about his going to a breeding farm.”
Bred in California
by Fast Lane Farms & Block & Forman and owned by Royce S.
Jaime Racing Stable Inc. & Suarez Racing Inc., Thor’s Echo is out of the
unraced Helen of Troy (Mr. Integrity), who has since produced a
yearling colt named Trojan Mandate (Perfect Mandate) and an unnamed
weanling filly by Swiss Yodeler, a full sister to the presumptive
sprint champion.