Escape Clause makes clean getaway in CTHS Sales Stakes

The sensational Escape Clause set a track record for seven furlongs while winning the $50,000 CTHS Sales Stakes for 3- and 4-year-old fillies at Century Downs on Sunday.

Escape Clause posted a final time of 1:22.19, eclipsing the mark of 1:22.36 set on Sept. 8 at the track which is in only its second meet.

Escape Clause easily won by nine lengths over Raider. She paid $2.70.

With Prayven Badrie aboard, Escape Clause was in tight early when Sail On By, who set the pace, moved from the five hole to the rail soon after the start. Badrie had Escape Clause well in hand while sitting just off Sail On By through a quarter-mile in 22.69 seconds. She moved to the lead at the half-mile mark, held a 4 1/2-length advantage at the eighth-pole, and was under wraps the final sixteenth.

Raider rallied to finish second over Sail On By, who was disqualified for cutting off Anstrum during the early stages of the race. Anstrum was moved from fourth to third.

It was the eighth straight stakes win for the 4-year-old Manitoba-bred daughter of Going Commando. The $30,000 winner’s share of the purse brought her career earnings to $373,378 and improved her record to an impressive 17-3-2 from 24 starts.

Before the race owner-trainer Don Schnell said if Escape Clause ran well he would probably take her to Southern California to give her a shot on the bigger circuit.

Strate Remark posted a final time of 1:23.56 and paid $4.10 for his 3 3/4-length front -running win over longshot Pacioretty in the colts and geldings division. Pacioretty finished a head in front of Regal Max, who was the 2-1 second choice in the wagering.

Strate Remark was ridden by Rico Walcott for trainer Craig MacPherson.

The 4-year-old British Columbia-bred son of Sungold is owned by Riversedge Racing Stables Ltd.