Celebrity chef Bobby Flay has purchased a 25% interest in Belmont Stakes (G1) contender J Boys Echo, Jason Loutsch of majority owner Albaugh Family Stable announced June 7.
The deal—brokered by BSW Bloodstock—came about after Flay reached out to Loutsch and trainer Dale Romans last weekend. Should J Boys Echo pull off a win in the final leg of the Triple Crown June 10, it would mark the second straight year Flay made a last-minute buy into a Belmont Stakes victor. Last season the New York native purchased a minority interest in eventual race winner Creator days before the colt's triumph in the 12-furlong classic.
"(Flay) called on Sunday and Dale called me, and we thought about it for a day and said 'Hey, let's hope that lightning strikes twice,'" Loutsch said. "The horse is doing good and we feel there is no real down side to doing this. Bobby is a guy who has had some luck and hopefully everything works out well."
J Boys Echo finished 15th in the Kentucky Derby Presented by Yum! Brands (G1) and bypassed the Preakness Stakes (G1) to freshen up for his expected run Saturday. The son of Mineshaft previously captured the March 4 Gotham Stakes (G3) at Aqueduct Racetrack, a race where he bested eventual Preakness winner Cloud Computing by 3 1/2 lengths.
