Island Echo Lowers Track Record at Churchill Downs

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Lewis Lakin's Island Echo, with Mark Guidry aboard, set a Churchill Downs record by covering five furlongs in 55.91 seconds to win Friday's $60,395 allowance turf race by 2 1/2 lengths over Petite Diablo.

The 5-year-old daughter of Eastern Echo topped the previous fastest mark of 55.92 seconds set last May by Separata. Island Echo, who won for the eighth time in 20 starts, earned $38,305 to increase her lifetime earnings to $246,075. Last time out, she finished second in the Mamzelle Stakes on May 2.

The Bill Mott-trained filly paid $2.80, $2.40, and $2.10. Petite Diablo, with Calvin Borel aboard, returned $4.80 and $2.10. Four Plus Four, ridden by Jesus Castanon, finished another two lengths back and paid $2.10.

"A course record is not something that you look to make happen, it just happen on its own," said Ralph Nicks, assistant to Mott. "It might have been that the course was tighter today than in the Mamzelle. It seems that she's getting faster each time that she runs." (Chart, Equibase)

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