Churchill Downs Stakes Recap: Echo Sound Edges Justinqueso in $300,000 Dream Supreme

Nov 14, 2026

Gabriel “Spider” Duignan’s Echo Sound tracked pacesetter Mystic Lake, grabbed a narrow advantage leaving the turn and gamely turned back a fierce challenge from Justinqueso to win Saturday’s 21st running of the $300,000 Dream Supreme (Listed) at Churchill Downs by a neck.

Ridden by Luis Saez for trainer Rusty Arnold II, 4-year-old filly Echo Sound ran six furlongs in 1:10.28 to collect her fifth career stakes win. Overall, it was her seventh win in 12 career starts and the $185,000 first prize jumped her earnings to $762,495.

Echo Sound won the $200,000 Myrtlewood at Keeneland as a 2-year-old, and last year’s 3-year-old campaign included triumphs in the $150,000 Miss Preakness (Grade III) and $175,000 Victory Ride (GIII). In July, she won the $100,000 Regret at Monmouth Park.

On Saturday, Echo Sound broke fine from post 3 and settled behind front-runner Mystic Lake, who rattled off early fractions of :22.42 and :45.23. Echo Sound was never far from the leader’s right hip and Justinqueso sat just behind Echo Sound.

Echo Sound and Justinqueso converged on the tiring Mystic Lake around the turn and battled shoulder-to-shoulder through the stretch. Echo Sound was able to hold off the on-coming Justinqueso under a long and sustained drive.

“She’s a very nice filly and we sat a good trip,” Saez said. “Down the lane, she really dug in to not let (Justinqueso) get by.”

Echo Sound, the even-money favorite after a fourth-place finish in the $400,000 Thoroughbred Club of America (GII) last time out, returned $4.20, $2.90 and $2.10. Justinqueso, under Brian Hernandez Jr., paid $3.10 and $2.26. Indy Bay, with Jose Ortiz up, was another 7 ¾ lengths back in third and paid $2.56 to show. A. Z. Wildcat and Mystic Lake completed the order of finish. Haulin Ice was scratched.

“She’s a very nice filly,” Arnold said. “After her last two starts we gave her six weeks until this race and I think that helped. Going into the race we thought (Justinqueso) was an improving filly and had a lot of respect for her. Down the lane, we know how tough it is to get by Luis on the lead.”

Echo Sound is a daughter of Echo Town out of the Fusaichi Pegasus mare Eagle Sound and was bred in Kentucky by Springhouse Farm, Vision TBs, Bruce Pieratt and Patricia Pieratt.

The Dream Supreme is named after the six-time graded stakes winner who won the Derby City Distaff at Churchill Downs in 2001. Trained by Bill Mott, Dream Supreme won two Grade I sprints in her 16-race career and earned $1,007,680 between 1999-2001.

DREAM SUPREME QUOTES

Luis Saez, jockey, Echo Sound, winner: “She’s a very nice filly and we sat a good trip. Down the lane, she really dug in to not let (Justinqueso) get by.”

Rusty Arnold II, trainer, Echo Sound, winner: “She’s a very nice filly. After her last two starts we gave her six weeks until this race and I think that helped. Going into the race we thought (Justinqueso) was an improving filly and had a lot of respect for her. Down the lane, we know how tough it is to get by Luis on the lead.”

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