Escape Clause promoted to victory in Kathryn Crosby Stakes

DEL MAR, Calif. – Don Schnell wanted to win a stakes race at Del Mar, and though the veteran trainer’s first on Friday’s opening-day card came via disqualification, it still meant something.

“It’s very special to win at Del Mar,” Schnell, 66, said. “Even though we kind of came in through the back door, we still won.”

It was only moments after the 4-year-old filly Schnell trains, Escape Clause, had been promoted to first following the disqualification of Excellent Sunset after the $83,170 Kathryn Crosby Stakes for older female grass runners. Excellent Sunset, a 4-1 shot, had finished first by a half-length. But the stewards immediately posted the inquiry sign, and then jockey Ruben Fuentes, who rode Escape Clause, lodged a claim of foul against Mario Gutierrez, who rode Excellent Sunset.

Minutes later, the stewards – Grant Baker, Luis Jauregui, and Kim Sawyer – ruled unanimously that Excellent Sunset had caused interference at midstretch, and they reversed the original top two, putting Escape Clause ($39.40) first.

“It looked pretty obvious,” Schnell said. “But you never know until they make the decision.”

Escape Clause came into the race with an eight-race win streak, but she had never run on turf, and this was her first start on this circuit. Her wins had been earned at Century Downs, Assiniboia, Northlands, and Canterbury, tracks at which Schnell – a native of Calgary – races during the summer.

He winters at Turf Paradise, and that is where Escape Clause was on Thursday morning as Schnell tried to iron out his worker’s compensation insurance for Southern California. Once that was taken care of Thursday afternoon, Escape Clause was on a van to Del Mar. She arrived Thursday night at 8, and less than 20 hours later was a Del Mar stakes winner.

“We came here to try the turf,” Schnell said. “I thought maybe third or fourth was the best we could do.

“My turf record’s pretty bad. I need to go see Chad Brown.”

Escape Clause has been outperforming expectations for a long time. The daughter of a sire – Going Commando – who stands for less than $1,000, she was purchased in Manitoba as a yearling for less than $4,000. She has won 18 times in 25 starts, and the $48,660 first prize on Friday brought her career earnings to $345,500.

Excellent Sunset had stalked the early pace of Birdie Gold and took over in upper stretch. Escape Clause, who was near Excellent Sunset throughout, dived inside her at midstretch as Excellent Sunset drifted in and came up a half-length short. Excellent Sunset owned the race’s final time of 1:35.08 for one mile on firm turf.

Sweet Charity was 1 1/4 lengths behind Escape Clause in third. Way to Versailles, the 2-1 favorite, was fourth.

It was a tough beat for Excellent Sunset, a recent private purchase who was making her first start for trainer Anna Meah, who recently went on her own and would have had her first winner – let alone a stakes winner – had Excellent Sunset stayed up.