Connections of Miss Preakness winner Echo Sound hope an ease in grade can help her get back on the winning trail in the $300,000 Grade III Dogwood Stakes over 1,400m at Churchill Downs on Saturday, September 20. George Arnold’s daughter of Echo Town carries a 2lb penalty alongside a couple of others in the eight-runner field.
Echo Sound followed up on her Pimlico win during the Preakness schedule with another Grade III success in the Victory Ride Stakes at the Saratoga summer meet. A bid for Grade I glory backfired, however, as she faded into sixth spot in the Test Stakes back at the Spa when kicking clear and going for home too soon.
Florent Geroux replaces Luis Saez in the saddle on Echo Sound for the Dogwood Stakes now, but she again faces the filly who just missed out on victory at the highest level in Godolphin’s improving Ragtime. Bill Mott’s daughter of Union Rags clocked some good speed figures around Saratoga before almost pulling off a Grade I coup in the Test.
Only Kilwin proved a neck too good for Ragtime that last day. In her bid to go one better, she also has 2lb swing in weight with Echo Sound from the Spa as the pair now head to Kentucky. Another Saratoga stakes scorer in Bouwerie winner Kay Cup heads to Churchill Downs, albeit with form at a lower level.
Indiana Oaks third Sturgeon Moon add her own Listed success around Ellis Park last time out. Delightful Claire placed in this grade in the Prioress Stakes at the Spa, shaping very much like she wanted to go back up in distance. The others in the line-up, Gerlin’s Empire, Strong State and Mega Mill only have minor wins on their resumes.
Dogwood Stakes 2025 Post Positions Draw
- Echo Sound (120lbs)
- Gerlin’s Empire (118lbs)
- Kay Cup (120lbs)
- Ragtime (118lbs)
- Strong State (118lbs)
- Sturgeon Moon (120lbs)
- Delightful Claire (118lbs)
- Mega Mill (118lbs)
Our Handicapper’s Verdict
Dropping into a lesser grade benefits Ragtime just as much as Echo Sound, so that won’t escape the notice of oddsmakers behind Preakness Stakes betting sites and the Morning Line. Even a change of jockey and tactics can’t disguise the fact that these terms favor Ragtime, based on the Test result. Mott has also won this twice before.
Of the other three-year-old fillies, Kay Cup, Sturgeon Moon and Delightful Claire will all fancy their chances of making the show behind the big two. It might be the latter who couldn’t go the pace at 1,200m, but previously delivered over this trip, who fares best of the rest. The remaining trio must improve significantly on minor successes.
WATCH: Echo Sound Win the Miss Preakness at Pimlico
ECHO SOUND takes the G3 Miss Preakness Stakes at @PimlicoRC with @luissaezpty aboard for trainer Rusty Arnold’s first career win at Pimlico!! 🏆
This was sire Echo Town’s first ever progeny graded stakes win!!
Echo Sound now has 4 wins and a second from 5 lifetime starts.… pic.twitter.com/EIz78jPnix
— Equibase (@Equibase) May 16, 2025
