Saratoga Meet Kicks Off as Echo Sound Targets Thursday’s Victory Ride Stakes

The Echo Town filly comes off a victory in the Miss Preakness Stakes (G3) at Pimlico and will look to keep her winning streak alive

SARATOGA SPRINGS, New York (Special for Turf Diario).- The traditional July 4th Racing Festival at Saratoga kicks off this Thursday with an exciting showdown among 3-year-old sprinters. Highlighting the card is the G3 Victory Ride Stakes, where Echo Sound looms large.

Owned by Gabriel Duignan and trained by Rusty Arnold, the daughter of Echo Town enters off a strong two-length victory in the Miss Preakness Stakes (G3) at Pimlico, a return to action after nearly six months away that reaffirmed her status as one of her generation’s most promising sprinters. That day, under Luis Sáez—who retains the mount from post three—she displayed tactical speed, versatility, and a powerful finishing kick.

“She’s never run a bad race. She’s won at Ellis Park, Keeneland, Churchill, and Pimlico, so she doesn’t rely on one particular track. That’s definitely a plus in races like this,” said Arnold, who also trained the race’s namesake Victory Ride (Seeking the Gold), winner of the G1 Test Stakes in 2001.

Unbeaten in stakes company and with four wins from five starts (her only defeat a runner-up effort), Echo Sound will now seek her first Saratoga triumph. Her main rival is Indy Bay, returning to the scene of her recent courageous victory in the Jersey Girl Stakes (Listed), where she overcame a stumble at the start to prevail. Bred by Frankfort Park Farm and trained by Saffie Joseph Jr., the daughter of Take Charge Indy has won three straight since changing barns.

Also seeking redemption is Hollygrove (Complexity), who set the pace before finishing third behind Echo Sound in the Miss Preakness. With John Velázquez aboard, she breaks from post two and will aim to capitalize on her early speed.

Breaking from the rail is Beauty Reigns, trained by Bill Mott with Junior Alvarado up. Third in the Jersey Girl, the daughter of Into Mischief enters off two solid efforts at Churchill Downs as she continues her quest for a first stakes victory.

Rounding out the field is veteran Whatintheliteral (Lord Nelson), who won the Astoria Stakes here as a juvenile but has yet to recapture that form. Ricardo Santana Jr. will be in the irons.

Saratoga’s meet begins with fireworks both on and off the track, promising an exhilarating start to the summer.