5 Facts

1. Luis Saez is the jockey for J Boys Echo and has ridden in 4 Derbys previously. He picked up the mount after Robby Albarado suffered a leg injury that will keep him sidelined for Derby.
2. Owner Dennis Albaugh of the Albaugh Family Stable is considered to be the richest man in Iowa and runs an agricultural and crop protection business.
3. Trainer Dale Romans is winless from 7 KY Derbys, but has finished in 3rd twice with Dullahan in 2012 and Paddy O’ Prado in 2010.
4. J Boy was voted on social media to have a celebrity look alike. The result was Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson.
5. J Boys Echo’s sire is Mineshaft, the 2003 Horse of the Year.

Horse Bio

J Boys Echo is a 3-year-old colt by Mineshaft who was bred in Kentucky and purchased for the sale price of $485,000 at the Fasig-Tipton September sale. His pedigree profile shows that he can get the classic Kentucky Derby distance of 1 ¼ miles by both the sire and dam.

In a very sharp debut, J Boys Echo ran 2nd at Churchill Downs despite breaking a step slow and then ducking in. He was second to last at the three-furlong marker and then made a huge move down the lane to finish in 2nd place.  J Boys Echo made his second career start at Keeneland just 25 days later, facing a field of 12, and went off as the 9/5 favorite. He won by more than 5 lengths after being steadied at the top of the stretch.

J Boys Echo was one of the most visually impressive 2-year-olds that won at Kenneland’s Winter meet. Just 23 days after breaking his maiden, his connections shipped him into Vinton, LA to run at Delta Downs in the $1,000,000 Delta Jackpot with new jockey Kent Desormeaux in the irons. J Boys Echo drew post 9 of 10 that afternoon and had to be asked early in the race to get position as the Delta Downs main track shape resembles a bull ring. With no run at the top of the lane due to a possible bounce after running 3 times in a 50-day span, or was pushed too early for position. J Boys Echo finished 4th that afternoon to the recent Fountain of Youth winner Gunnevera.

J Boys Echo made his 3-year-old debut at Aqueduct Feb. 4th in The Withers (G3) in New York following time down South at Gulfstream Park for the winter. It was his first start since the Delta Jackpot, and once again he drew the widest of all start positions with breaking from the 10 post. His connections went back to jockey Robby Albarado for the Withers (G3) run. After the first turn, J Boys Echo was 3 wide and could only manage 3rd at the wire.

His connections decided to return to the Big Apple for The Gotham at Aqueduct next. The post-position draw was kind to him this time, as he drew the rail. J Boys Echo broke well and settled in fourth around the first turn. He stalked the speed until the top of the lane and that’s when Robby let him run and he passed by the front runners like they were carrying an anchor. J Boys Echo received the second-highest Beyer number of all 3-year-olds on the Kentucky Derby trail in that victory. His connections have stated he might return to New York for the Wood Memorial over the Aqueduct main track or possibly run in the Blue Grass Stakes at Keeneland, where he broke his maiden.

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