Escape Clause to face toughest test yet in Santa Monica

ARCADIA, Calif. – Escape Clause has shown in recent months that she can be competitive in Southern California. The next month will reveal how effective Escape Clause can be in what will be her toughest assignments.

Saturday, Escape Clause will start in the Grade 2 Santa Monica Stakes for fillies and mares at seven furlongs at Santa Anita, the most prestigious race of her career. Owner and trainer Don Schnell is hoping Escape Clause can use the $200,000 Santa Monica as a stepping-stone to the Grade 1 Beholder Mile on March 16.

Escape Clause won the Grade 3 La Canada Stakes at 1 1/16 miles by 5 1/2 lengths at Santa Anita on Jan. 12. That race did not include the Grade 1 winners Dream Tree, Marley’s Freedom, and Paradise Woods, who are expected to be part of the Santa Monica.

A 5-year-old Canadian-bred mare, Escape Clause has a remarkable record of 19 wins in 28 starts.

“I know I’m probably reaching a little in this race,” Schnell said on Wednesday. “It’s a tougher race than what she’s been in.”

Tyler Baze rode Escape Clause in the La Canada and has the mount in the Santa Monica. Baze previously rode Selcourt, who won the Santa Monica in 2018 and is expected to be part of this year’s race. Joe Talamo will ride Selcourt.

Escape Clause is unbeaten in two starts at seven furlongs, the most recent of which was the $37,392 CTHS Sales Stakes at Century Downs in Alberta last October in track record time of 1:22.19. Since then, Escape Clause has been based with Schnell at Turf Paradise in Phoenix, but raced only at Del Mar and Santa Anita.

During that span, Escape Clause has not been worse than fourth in four starts. She was promoted from second to first in the restricted Kathryn Crosby Stakes at a mile on turf at Del Mar on Nov. 9 and was third by a length in the Grade 3 Red Carpet Handicap going 1 3/8 miles on turf on Nov. 22.

For the moment, the La Canada is her career-defining win.

“She can sprint, but she’s a much better route horse,” Schnell said. “I know she won’t disappoint. That’s the way she runs.”