Escape Clause ready to travel – but not to Woodbine

ETOBICOKE, Ontario – The remarkable Escape Clause, who has torn a swath through Western Canada this year, will not put her eight-race win streak on the line at Woodbine this fall.

Owner-trainer Don Schnell said he was exploring all options for the speedy Manitoba-bred after she won last Sunday’s CTHS Sales Stakes in track-record time at Century Downs, near Calgary, Alberta, but a trip to Woodbine to run on the Tapeta main track made the least sense.

“We’re probably going to go south and maybe either try her at Del Mar or Zia Park,” Schnell said. “We’re not sure if she’d like the [Tapeta] or not. While she’s on a roll, I’d like to keep her on the dirt.”

Escape Clause lost her first two starts of the year, both at Canterbury, but earned an 87 Beyer Speed Figure there when second in an optional claimer. Her win streak began June 8 in the La Verendrye Stakes at Assiniboia Downs, and the 4-year-old doubled up a month later in an optional claimer at Canterbury.

Escape Clause got the hat trick in the July 25 Winnipeg Sun Stakes at Assiniboia. She remained there to crush one rival in the Aug. 18 Distaff Stakes, a non-wagering event. Just a week later, she won the City of Edmonton Distaff Handicap at Northlands Park by 4 1/4 lengths, and then went back to Assiniboia for an easy two-length score in the Sept. 7 Manitoba Matron Stakes.

Escape Clause shipped to Century for her most impressive victory on Oct. 8, a 10 3/4-length triumph over a muddy track in the Founders Distaff Handicap, for which she got an 89 Beyer. She cut back from 1 1/16 miles to seven furlongs in Sunday’s CTHS Sales Stakes and prevailed by nine lengths in 1:22.19.

“She’s very, very tough,” Schnell said. “She can stand more than most horses. Last year, we ran her in two stakes four days apart, and she won both of them. We’ve run her fairly often. I know some people probably think that’s not right, but she hasn’t had to put out. That’s the key. She just hasn’t been tested lately. It’s easier on them when they don’t have to go full out. You can run them back a little quicker. It’s not near the competition you’d find in other places, like Woodbine or California.”

Escape Clause could be a Sovereign Award finalist in two categories this year, older female and female sprinter.

◗ Ten fillies and mares were entered in Friday’s Woodbine feature, a second-level optional claimer, scheduled for lane 5 on the grass. The Maryland-based stakes winner Party Boat could go favored in the one-turn mile. Trainer Roger Attfield sends out Kylla Instinct and Corps de Ballet. Sparkles’ Girl is the lone main-track-only entrant.