Echo Sound made a triumphant return to the track with a standout performance in the $150,000 Miss Preakness Stakes (G3) at Pimlico, marking her debut for the season in impressive fashion. Owned by Gabriel Duignan and trained by George “Rusty” Arnold II, the three-year-old filly bounced back from her only career loss last fall and looked every bit the promising star her connections had hoped for.
Contested over six furlongs, the Miss Preakness was part of a blockbuster Black-Eyed Susan Day program featuring multiple graded stakes. Echo Sound, piloted by Luis Saez, delivered a commanding performance, drawing clear late and crossing the wire two lengths ahead of the competition. Her final time on the fast main track was a solid 1:11.14.
The race saw Echo Sound tracking the early pace while kept wide and in the clear. Hollygrove, breaking from the rail, led through brisk early fractions but couldn’t fend off the closers in the final furlong. You’ll Be Back, dismissed at 25-1, made a bold inside bid and grabbed second, while Hollygrove, another longshot, stayed on well to finish third. The order of finish also included G W’s Girl, Mila Rose, High Paf, and others, with a few entrants scratched prior to post time.
Echo Sound had shown promise as a juvenile, breaking her maiden at Ellis Park before following up with a pair of victories, including a stakes win at Keeneland. Her runner-up finish in the Fern Creek late last year was her last start before a winter layoff to address a minor physical setback. Her return to action in this graded event could not have gone more smoothly.
Arnold expressed satisfaction with how the filly handled her comeback, particularly given concerns about the track condition leading into the race. He noted that she had trained well and appeared ready, though fitness always remains a question after a break. Fortunately, the race unfolded just as he’d hoped, with the filly relaxing early and powering home late.
Saez, who had the freedom to ride as he saw fit, allowed Echo Sound to settle off the pace and make her move at the right time. Confident in her condition and fitness, he took the filly wide into the stretch where she responded with a strong finishing kick.
Runners-up also earned praise for their efforts. You’ll Be Back showed good tactical speed and a strong late move, while Hollygrove ran valiantly despite a less-than-ideal setup. Her trainer and jockey both acknowledged that leading from the rail wasn’t the preferred scenario but were pleased with her determination.
Not all favorites fired, however. Stunner, expected to be in the mix, faded to eighth after encountering kickback and traffic. Trainer Brad Cox pointed to the filly’s discomfort with the track conditions and promised to regroup ahead of her next outing.
Echo Sound’s next objective is likely to be the Grade 1 Test Stakes at Saratoga, a race that would give her the opportunity to prove herself among the elite of her division. Given her return to winning ways and the ease with which she dispatched this field, she’ll be one to watch as the season progresses.
