Echo Sound to Make Seasonal Debut in Miss Preakness

Gabriel Duignan's Echo Sound makes her seasonal debut May 16 in the $150,000 Miss Preakness Stakes (G3) at Pimlico Racecourse. She will face an expected 12 other 3-year-old fillies in the six-furlong sprint, including 2024 Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies (G1) runner-up Vodka With a Twist. Last year Echo Sound closed her 2-year-old season with a second place finish in the Fern Creek Stakes at Churchill Downs Nov. 30. Prior to that, the Rusty Arnold-trained daughter of Echo Town drew clear to win the Myrtylewood Stakes Oct. 25 at Keeneland by 2 1/2 lengths. Luis Saez has the mount Saturday, where Echo Sound is co-highweight at 124 pounds. "We're very high on her," Arnold said. "She's been very good to us so far. I hope she continues on into her 3-year-old year that way. She's bigger, she's stronger. But, she was a pretty good strong baby, too. She was pretty imposing as a 2-year-old, and she looks very well. She spent the winter at Wavertree Farm, and they got her ready for me." LNJ Foxwoods and Church Street Stable's Stunner enters Friday's race off graded stakes placings in the Forward Gal Stakes (G3) at Gulfstream Park and the Beaumont Stakes (G2) at Keeneland, where she defeated multiple stakes winner G W's Girl, who finished fourth. Flavien Prat will be aboard the Tempted Stakes winner for trainer Brad Cox. The daughter of Girvin has never finished worse than second in six starts. "The last run was good," Cox said. "We went a little quick early over not a great racetrack with it being muddy and everything. She bounced out of it well. We thought we would target this race, and she had a good breeze this week." G W's Girl, co-highweight at 124 pounds, is scheduled to start from post 4 for trainer Greg Compton and jockey Paco Lopez. Vodka With a Twist, who has not dodged any competition in her career, finishing second in two grade 1 races at 2, recently finished third behind Tenma in the Santa Anita Oaks (G2) April 5 for trainer Philip D'Amato. The daughter of Thousand Words should appreciate the shorter distance Saturday. Both of her wins came in sprints, including the six-furlong Debutante Stakes last June at Churchill Downs. Jockey Mike Smith will ride for the first time. Wesley Ward enters multiple stakes winner Long Neck Paula who defeated males in last year's Bowman Mills Stakes at Keeneland, and recently finished second against males in the off-the-turf Palisades Stakes April 6. Kentucky Derby-winning jockey Junior Alvarado will ride for owners Will Stroud and Debra O'Connor. Grade 1 Winner Candied Returns in Allaire Dupont After placing in five straight graded stakes but not earning a win, Candied, winner of the 2023 Alcibiades Stakes (G1), gets some class relief in Saturday's $125,000 Allaire Dupont Distaff Stakes at Pimlico. The daughter of Candy Ride (ARG) faces seven fillies and mares in the 1 1/8 mile race. Candied ran second behind last year's Horse of the Year Thorpedo Anna in the July 20 Coaching Club American Oaks (G1) at Saratoga Race Course. Since then, the 4-year-old filly has had one second place and three third-place finishes, all in graded stakes company for owners Eclipse Thoroughbred Partners and B Flay Thoroughbreds. Irad Ortiz Jr. will be in the irons. She will face graded stakes winners Dazzling Move and Lemon Muffin. Undefeated stakes winner Complexity Jane leads a field of nine for the $125,000 Hilltop Stakes for 3-year-old fillies on the turf that includes Cincinnati Trophy Stakes winner White Rocks on the Black Eyed Susan (G2) undercard at Pimlico. Graded stakes winner Accomplished Girl looks to return to form in the $100,000 The Very One Stakes for owner Gentry Farms and trainer Steve Asmussen. The 5 1/2 furlong turf race drew a field of 14 fillies and mares.