Eastern Echo Breaks Down During Workout, Will Not Race Again

Eastern Echo, a leading candidate for the 2-year-old championship, broke down today during a morning workout at Belmont Park and will not race again.

The unbeaten Rokeby Stable colt, which probably would have been favored in the Champagne on Saturday at Belmont Park, fractured a sesamoid in his right foreleg.

Miller said Paul Mellon, who owns Rokeby Stable, was advised of the injury, and the decision was made to retire the colt, although the injury did not appear to be life-threatening.

Eastern Echo, a colt by Damascus from the Northern Dancer mare Wild Applause and bred by his owner, was undefeated in three career starts. His most recent victory came in the Belmont Futurity on Sept. 15, in which he defeated Deposit Ticket, which had won the Hopeful at Saratoga, the Sapling at Monmouth and Hollywood Park’s Juvenile Championship in three prior starts.