L and N Racing's Echo Town turned the tables on No Parole Aug. 1 in the $300,000 H. Allen Jerkens Stakes Presented by Runhappy (G1) at Saratoga Race Course.
The runner-up by 3 3/4 lengths to that rival in the June 20 Woody Stephens Stakes Presented by Claiborne Farm (G1) at Belmont Park last out, this time the Speightstown colt swept to the lead on the far outside under Ricardo Santana Jr., then drew off to a 3 1/2-length score.
No Parole, who set the pace early, faded to finish ninth as the 2-1 favorite in the field of 11. Tap It to Win and Shoplifted completed the top three.
The final time for the seven-furlong test for 3-year-olds was 1:22.53 on a fast track, and the 7-1 winner returned $16.40 for a $2 win bet.
It was the first grade 1 win for Echo Town, a Steve Asmussen trainee who entered top-level company for the first time in his previous start.
"It was great to see him put it all together when it matters so much on this stage. He ran solidly here. He ran really well into the Woody Stephens, but I thought the timing of this race was better," Asmussen said. "He's run hard all year. He's run consistently all year. Now he will be noticed."
No Parole, seeking his third consecutive victory, took up his familiar frontrunning position and was pressed first by grade 1 winner Eight Rings through a quarter-mile in :22.67 and then by two-time grade 3 winner Mischevious Alex through a half in :45.31. Tap It to Win, last seen running fifth behind winner Tiz the Law in the June 20 Belmont Stakes Presented by NYRA Bets (G1), moved up into a contending position with the leaders on the turn from his far outside post, while Echo Town remained unhurried in fifth.
"He broke really sharp today, and when the dirt started hitting him in the face, he was jumping a little bit but he was really comfortable," Santana said. "I took him outside and he gave me a nice kick at the end. He was traveling really well. I knew there was plenty of speed today, and I just wanted to sit behind the speed. I'm really happy with the horse."
The top three turned for home together when No Parole began to drop back along the rail, leaving Mischevious Alex and Tap It to Win in a duel. Santana put Echo Town in a drive midway around the far turn, tipped farthest outside once in the straight, and came with a steady run to catch the leaders and surge past for the score.
Bred in Kentucky by J. Betz, Betz, Burns, CHNNHK Thoroughbreds, Magers, and CoCo Equine out of the grade 2-winning Menifee mare Letgomyecho, Echo Town was purchased for $100,000 from Betz Thoroughbreds' consignment to the 2018 Keeneland September Yearling Sale. He was unraced at 2, then alternated wins and losses through his first six starts this season, capturing his Jan. 18 debut at Fair Grounds Race Course & Slots and a March 13 allowance at Oaklawn Park. Second in the six-furlong Bachelor Stakes in April, he stretched out to seven-eighths for the first time in the Woody Stephens before finding top-level success Saturday. He improved his record to 4-2-1 from seven starts with earnings of $375,320.
Letgomyecho is also the dam of 2017 Gotham Stakes (G3) winner J Boys Echo and 2015 Iroquois Stakes (G3) third-place finisher Unbridled Outlaw. She has a 2018 Candy Ride colt named Burrow, foaled a Gun Runner filly in 2019, and dropped an American Pharoah filly this season.
