Horse Profile: Ecoro Azel

Breeders' Cup Juvenile Scouting Report

(Editor's note: Originally published in the 2024 BRISnet Breeders' Cup International Report)

Most recently a slow-starting fifth to American Bikini (Juvenile Fillies), the Mori-trained Ecoro Azel hopes to get a form boost going into the Juvenile. 

From the first crop of Shancelot, the 2019 Sprint runner-up, Ecoro Azel sold for $215,000 at OBS March. That was quite a profit for Jose Munoz, who had bought him for only $17,000 as a Fasig-Tipton Kentucky October yearling. The colt worked a furlong in :10 at the under tack show, just a tick off the shared bullet on that first day. 

Ecoro Azel opened his career on a winning note in a Niigata newcomers’ race July 27. Hustled from post 3 to set the pace in the about six-furlong sprint, he was firmly in control by 2 1/2 lengths in a final time of 1:12.7.

Thus one would have expected him to flash speed in his Sept. 28 follow-up at Chukyo. But Ecoro Azel was out of position throughout after a poor start. If he had broken alertly, might he have pressed American Bikini early? Ecoro Azel regrouped somewhat for a late-running fifth, posting the second-fastest final sectional (about three furlongs) in :35.8. Favored Clay King reeled off the fastest (:35.5) when rallying for third. 

Ecoro Azel likely gets some two-turn capacity from his dam, the multiple Louisiana-bred stakes-placed Cicada’s Song. The Twirling Candy mare is a half-sister to the prolific state-bred performer El Dinero, whose biggest win (both by purse and by margin) came in the Crescent City Derby at Fair Grounds.