Escapist proven on turf for Quick Call
SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. – Some pretty fast horses from some pretty powerful barns will be trying turf for the first time in Thursday’s $100,000 Quick Call Stakes at Saratoga. Perhaps, it’s the horse with the proven turf form from a low-profile stable that will offer the most value.
Escapist, from the six-horse stable of trainer Peter Pugh, will seek his third consecutive victory in the Quick Call, scheduled for 5 1/2 furlongs on the Mellon turf course. Pugh last won a stakes race in 1983 with Sun and Shine, who won the Riggs Handicap at Pimlico and Red Bank at Monmouth.
DRF FORMULATOR FACT:No. 3 Escapist. Trainer Peter Pugh is winless in 18 starts at Saratoga over the past five years. Click for more details. – Mike Hogan
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Escapist, a son of Stroll, has made both his starts on turf. He won his debut at Gulfstream against 3-year-olds by 4 1/4 lengths on Feb. 20. After dealing with some minor health issues, Escapist came back on June 6 and defeated older horses by a half-length when going six furlongs at Belmont.
Pugh, who is part-owner of Escapist along with Margaret Duprey, said he was more impressed with Escapist’s second race than first “for the simple fact it was an eighth of a mile further on good ground instead of firm ground and against older horses.”
“I thought he stepped up a little bit in that one,” Pugh said. “The maiden race down there was a straight 3-year-old race; it wasn’t the toughest race in the world.”
Escapist has been in front in both of his victories and meets Pure Sensation, Good Bye Greg and Favorite Tale, all trying turf for the first time. All three have been on the lead in most of their dirt or synthetic races.
“There’s some fast horses in there,” Pugh said. “I don’t know how he’ll react if he doesn’t get the lead. I really don’t.”
Favorite Tale, trained by Guadalupe Preciado, and Pure Sensation, trained by Christophe Clement, were one-two in the Gold Fever Stakes on dirt in May. Pure Sensation, who breaks from the rail, was beaten only a half-length for second in the Grade 2 Woody Stephens. Good Bye Greg has scored two front-running victories on synthetic for Arlington-based trainer Larry Rivelli.
A hot pace duel could set things up for Harpoon, who showed improvement last out with blinkers added for trainer Todd Pletcher.
Key contenders
Pure Sensation (Last 3 Beyers 89-83-90)
Over the past five years, trainer Christophe Clement is 12 for 37 with a $3.05 return on investment with horses going from dirt to a turf sprint, according to DRF Formulator. He is 1 for 6 (0 for 2 at Saratoga) when doing that move in a stakes.
“The owner told me a year ago [to try turf],” Clement said. “It took me a year to try him. Very fast horse. I want to try him once on the turf.”
Clement said Pure Sensation galloped on the infield at Belmont and “he seemed to be handling it very well.”
Good Bye Greg (Last 3 Beyers 76-95-NA)
Trainer Larry Rivelli, based at Arlington, has won at least one race at Saratoga the last three summers (4 for 12 in that span).
Good Bye Greg missed about two weeks of training in early June due to a grabbed quarter.
Rivelli said Good Bye Greg worked on turf at Arlington in May with one of his better horses “and he went over it really well.”
Rivelli called Good Bye Greg, “The best 3-year-old I’ve had in a long time.”