Escape Clause rolls to first graded win in La Canada
ARCADIA, Calif. – The move was made quickly and with conviction.
On the turn of Saturday’s Grade 3 La Canada Stakes at Santa Anita, Escape Clause went from third to first rapidly, taking control of the race. Through the stretch, Escape Clause pulled away, winning the $100,000 race for fillies and mares at 1 1/16 miles by 5 1/2 lengths over the New Mexico shipper K P Wildcat.
“When I said go, she took off on me,” jockey Tyler Baze said. “I was impressed by how easy she did it.”
Baze rode Escape Clause for the first time in the La Canada, which was run on a wet-fast main track. Sent off favored, Escape Clause ($4.20) was timed in 1:41.89 and earned a career-best Beyer Speed Figure of 91.
“There was a whole lot left,” he said.
Lemoona closed from last in a field of six to finish third, followed by Stradella Road and Bernina Star. True Royalty, the winner of the Grade 3 Torrey Pines Stakes at Del Mar last August, was eased in the stretch and walked back to the stables.
Baze had Escape Clause in third, racing wide, on the first turn. Stradella Road, the 13-1 longest shot in the field, led through early fractions of 23.02 seconds for the opening quarter-mile and 46.25 for a half-mile. Escape Clause was racing wide when she took command.
Overall, the race was an achievement of mares with extensive backgrounds throughout the Southwest and Canada. K P Wildcat has won nine stakes in New Mexico.
Escape Clause, a Manitoba-bred owned and trained by Don Schnell, won her 17th stakes, and first at the graded level, although 15 of those races were worth $50,000 or less at venues such as Assiniboia Downs in Manitoba, and Century Downs and Northlands Park in Alberta.
A 5-year-old mare by the Unbridled’s Song stallion Going Commando, Escape Clause was second in the restricted Kathryn Crosby Stakes at a mile on turf at Del Mar in November, but was promoted to first when a rival was disqualified. The Kathryn Crosby was Escape Clause’s California debut.
Escape Clause was then third in the Red Carpet Stakes at Del Mar later in November, and fourth in the Grade 3 Robert J. Frankel Stakes on turf Dec. 29 in her Santa Anita debut.
Escape Clause has won 19 of 28 starts and earned $423,500. Schnell said in the winner’s circle that the mare would return to his stable at Turf Paradise in Phoenix on Sunday morning, but could return to Santa Anita later this winter.
