Dubai Escapade victorious in Vagrancy

A showdown between the two top female sprinters on the East Coast turned into a mismatch Sunday afternoon at Belmont Park as Dubai Escapade turned back a challenge from Smokey Glacken at the quarter pole and drew clear for an emphatic six-length victory in the Grade 2, $150,000 .

High Button Shoes rallied for second by a head over Magnolia Jackson. It was one-half length back to Grecian Lover and another half-length to a tiring Smokey Glacken in fifth. Leave Me Alone finished last.

It was the fifth consecutive victory for Dubai Escapade, a 4-year-old daughter of Awesome Again owned by the Darley Stable and trained by Eoin Harty.

Under Edgar Prado, Dubai Escapade outsprinted Smokey Glacken for the early lead and opened up a 2 1-2-length lead after an opening quarter in 22.18 seconds. Smokey Glacken tried Dubai Escapade from the three-eighths pole to the quarter pole, but Dubai Escapade turned her aside in the stretch. Dubai Escapade covered 6 1-2 furlongs in 1:15.39 and returned $3.50 as the favorite.

"She's a super fast filly," Harty said. "I just try to stay out of her way. She's done nothing wrong for us. Today, she went to the lead like she always does and they couldn't catch her."

Smokey Glacken entered the Vagrancy off three consecutive graded stakes victories.

Dubai Escapade and Smokey Glacken could meet again in the Grade 1 Princess Rooney at Calder on July 15.