Pyro's Sis War Echo Debuts Sunday

Another interesting baby race on Sunday at Saratoga, as Jim Dandy runner Pyro is preceded in race 6 by the debut of his baby three-quarter sister War Echo. Big brother won his maiden start at first-asking, but can little sis do the same? With the potent pairing of Asmussen and Bridgmohan, I’m betting she can.

If not, there’s the Lion Heart filly, Pumpkin Shell, another first-time starter with lots of upside. Her mother Changing Ways won the 1994 Schuylerville, and she’s a half-sister to this year’s G2 Dixie winner Pays to Dream who was recently retired following a fractured sesamoid acquired during the G1 Manhattan. Pumpkin Shell has some nice works leading to this, and she’s looks to go off at a decent price. Watch her.

Nick Zito sends out the Mineshaft filly Miss Ocean City, a half-sister to last year’s G3 Fort Marcy winner Woodlander that has interesting breeding: 3 x 3 to Seattle Slew, and 3 x 3 to Mr. Prospector. Pearl of Valor (Medaglia D’Oro) finished second in her first effort, and the winner Jardin came back to win the G2 Schuylerville, but I’m not thrilled with her. Ditto for the Dixie Union filly She’s From Queens, a half-sister to last year’s G2 Jim Dandy runner-up C P West, who has been working at Keeneland.

Personally, I’d be thrilled to see a good effort out of Ride With the Herd, who comes in off a good third-place effort at Belmont. Why do I like her? This daughter of Candy Ride is out of a Lord at War mare War Bride whose dam Snow County Honey is by Foolish Pleasure.

UPDATE: Don’t know if this is a harbinger of the later Jim Dandy, but Pyro’s sis War Echo was disappointing, finishing well back in seventh—nearly 19 lengths back from the winner Miss Ocean City ($12.20 win) who lived up to Jardin’s form in the Schuylerville by wiring the field. Pumpkin Shell ($11.80 place) was a clear second, while the surprise was Shug McGaughey’s Smoke Glacken filly Persistently flying out of the clouds to get up for third ($12.80 show). A whopping $2,342 payout for the $2 trifecta, while the 10 cent superfecta paid $539.35 with Danceyoursocksoff finishing fourth.