Tricky Escape takes off-the-turf Cardinal Handicap

LOUISVILLE, Ky. – It may have been watered down, but the $100,000 Cardinal Handicap went to Tricky Escape on Saturday – and the 4-year-old filly’s connections couldn’t have been much happier about it.

“We’re absolutely thrilled,” trainer Lynn Ashby said after Tricky Escape, ridden by Chris DeCarlo, outfinished Fair Point to win the off-the-turf race by a nose.

Run over a sloppy Churchill Downs track, and with its grade temporarily suspended, the 44th Cardinal was contested by just seven fillies and mares after rain and wind led to five horses from an original field of 12 being scratched, most notably the 8-5 morning-line favorite, Dona Bruja.

Coco Channel, a 30-1 shot, dueled early in the 1 1/8-mile Cardinal with fellow longshot B Rockett, but the others began gaining as the field turned for home. Tricky Escape surged up the rail for her narrow score, with Fair Point another 1 3/4 lengths ahead of Coco Channel, who finished in tight quarters between the top two. An objection by Julie Burke, the rider of Coco Channel, for alleged interference in deep stretch was dismissed by the stewards.

Tricky Escape returned $7 as second choice after finishing in 1:53.85.

As is protocol in situations involving a transfer of racing surfaces, the Grade 3 ranking for the Cardinal must be reviewed and approved by the American Graded Stakes Committee in the coming days before it can be applied.

Tricky Escape, a dark bay Kentucky-bred by Hat Trick, now has won four times while never finishing worse than fourth in 13 career starts for owner Jon A. Marshall. It was the second stakes win for Tricky Escape, following the Grade 3 Violet over the Monmouth Park turf in August. She is currently based at the Middletown training center in Delaware with Ashby, a longtime mainstay of East Coast circuits.

Linda, fourth as the 19-10 favorite, had no mishap and will be retired to the breeding shed, said trainer Ian Wilkes. The 4-year-old filly won the Grade 2 Mrs. Revere here last fall as the highlight of a 15-race career.

The $2 exacta (2-10) paid $30.20, the $1 trifecta (2-10-6) returned $168.40, and the 10-cent superfecta (2-10-6-9) was worth $45.84.

Limousine Liberal wins easily

Earlier Saturday, before the rain hit, Limousine Liberal ($3) completed an unprecedented sweep when getting a perfect trip under Corey Lanerie in dominating the $81,545 Bet On Sunshine.

Bred and owned by K.K. Ball, Limousine Liberal won all four sprint stakes for older horses held this year at Churchill: the Grade 2 Churchill Downs, the Grade 3 Aristides, the Kelly’s Landing, and the Bet On Sunshine.

A 5-year-old gelding by Successful Appeal, Limousine Liberal will be off “maybe 45 days or so” at Donamire before gradually gearing up for a campaign that Ball and trainer Ben Colebrook are hoping will end with a start in the Breeders’ Cup Sprint here next November.

Warrior’s Club finished second in a field of five, 4 1/4 lengths behind Limousine Liberal, who finished seven furlongs in 1:22.79 over a fast track.