Should be a breeze for Dubai Escapade

HALLANDALE BEACH, Fla. - Dubai Escapade evoked memories of her older half-sister, the Grade 1 winner Madcap Escapade, when she won an entry-level allowance race here Jan. 25 by 7 3/4 lengths. Dubai Escapade appears to have found another field that she should dominate when she runs in a second-level allowance race going one mile Friday at Gulfstream Park.

A $2 million daughter of Awesome Again, overcame a slow start to win her North American debut on Jan. 25, which was her first start in 10 months. Dubai Escapade had actually shipped to America from Dubai last spring but had gotten very sick and never made it to the races in 2005.

She was one of the first arrivals at Palm Meadows last November and displayed a strong work tab leading up to her last race. She cruised to a dominant win in which she covered 6 1/2 furlongs in 1:15.26 and earned a Beyer Speed Figure of 104.

"Very impressive," said trainer Eoin Harty. "She broke a little slow, assumed the lead very shortly, and never looked back. I don't know how tough the competition was that day. The favorite scratched on the way to the gate," he said, referring to Aspen Tree, "but I think she's got a lot of talent, a lot of potential."

Harty said he wanted to get another allowance race into Dubai Escapade before hopefully tackling stakes company in the spring and summer. Dubai Escapade has to stretch out from 6 1/2 furlongs to a mile on Friday, but has been working purposefully at Palm Meadows leading up to this.

"We want to try and make it as easy as possible for her," Harty said. "Lord willing, she'll be good enough for stakes during the summer in New York."

In addition to being the best horse in the field, Dubai Escapade looks like the main speed from post 2 under John Velazquez.

comes off a 5 3/4-length allowance win over this track on Feb. 2. That race was run at 1 1/8 miles around two turns. Friday, she has to cut back to a one-turn mile.

has finished in the top three in her last five dirts starts, including a solid runner-up performance in a one-mile allowance race over this track two starts back.