Escape Clause Heads Field in Churchill's Locust Grove

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Escape Clause Heads Field in Churchill's Locust Grove
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Photo: Anne M. Eberhardt
Grade 1-placed Escape Clause will try the Locust Grove Stakes (G3) Sept. 14 at Churchill Downs

The well-traveled Escape Clause, whose past six races have come in California, New Mexico, Arkansas, New York, Delaware, and Ohio, tries Kentucky and the $200,000 Locust Grove Stakes (G3) at Churchill Downs Sept. 14. The Manitoba, Canada-bred Escape Clause totes co-highweight of 123 going 1 1/16 miles in the Locust Grove for older fillies and mares.

Escape Clause won the La Canada Stakes (G3) to start the season and then took the Harry Henson Stakes by daylight before missing by a nose to Midnight Bisou in the Apple Blossom Stakes (G1). Two back, she also knocked heads with Elate, finishing second in the Delaware Handicap (G2). She does her best racing from just off the pace but needs to recapture her winning ways after four consecutive defeats.

Mylady Curlin beat Escape Clause last out in the Lady Jacqueline Stakes at Thistledown and is riding a five-race winning streak coming into the Locust Grove, including a score in the DuPont Distaff (G3). She also races on or just off the lead, and the top two choices could be locked together for much of their two-turn journey under the Twin Spires.  

Go Google Yourself is a consistent winner, and proved victorious in the Groupie Doll Stakes at Ellis Park a month ago. A year ago she ran two good races at Churchill, twice missing by less than a length while second.

Moonlit Garden won the Iowa Distaff in July and was third in the Groupie Doll. She, too, has faced Midnight Bisou earlier this year, as well as She's a Julie, and ran competitively against both. She could click if the top two wear one another out.

Cosmic Burst took the Zia Park Oaks last fall but has been winless in five races since. Pink Sands won the Lady's Secret at Monmouth Park in June before faltering in the Shuvee (G3) at Saratoga. The closer could pick up the pieces if a pace duel develops.

One race before the Locust Grove, fillies and mares will sprint six furlongs in the $125,000 Open Mind Stakes. America's Tale looks formidable here, having won the Inside Information (G2) in March before going to the bench after landing fourth in the Madison (G1) at Keeneland. She ripped off three straight wins last autumn/winter and has won two of her four starts at Churchill. A versatile sort, she can run on the lead or come from a stalking spot.

Honey Bunny is co-highweighted with America's Tale at 122 pounds. She took the Winning Colors (G3) at Churchill in May, her fifth consecutive win, but has tailed off since. A return to form puts her squarely in the mix.

The lightly raced Meadow Dance is an intriguing filly. A 3-year-old facing older here, she has won both of her starts this season in allowance level company. She hit the board in the Alcibiades (G1) last autumn and has never been worse than third in her six starts. 


Entries: Locust Grove S. (G3)

Churchill Downs, Saturday, September 14, 2019, Race 8

  • Grade III
  • 1 1/16m
  • Dirt
  • $200,000
  • 3 yo's & up Fillies and Mares
  • 4:21 PM (local)
PP Horse Jockey Wgt Trainer M/L
1 1Pink Sands (KY) Corey J. Lanerie 121 Claude R. McGaughey III 8/1
2 2Moonlit Garden (KY)Keeneland Sales Graduate Florent Geroux 121 Brad H. Cox 9/2
3 3Mylady Curlin (KY) Shaun Bridgmohan 123 Brad H. Cox 5/2
4 4Skeptic (KY)Keeneland Sales Graduate Julien R. Leparoux 121 George R. Arnold, II 20/1
5 5Escape Clause (MB) Tyler Baze 123 Don Schnell 3/1
6 6Cosmic Burst (PA)Keeneland Sales Graduate Miguel Mena 121 Donnie K. Von Hemel 20/1
7 7Go Google Yourself (KY) Brian Joseph Hernandez, Jr. 121 Paul J. McGee 3/1
8 8Red Dane (ITY) Edgar Morales 121 Charles Lopresti 15/1
9 9Rose of Malibu (KY) Jon Kenton Court 121 C. R. Trout 20/1


Entries: Open Mind S.

Churchill Downs, Saturday, September 14, 2019, Race 7

  • STK
  • 6f
  • Dirt
  • $125,000
  • 3 yo's & up Fillies and Mares
  • 3:48 PM (local)
PP Horse Jockey Wgt Trainer M/L
1 1Divine Queen (KY) Calvin H. Borel 120 William B. Bradley 7/2
2 2Upset Brewing (KY)Keeneland Sales Graduate Gabriel Saez 120 William B. Bradley 12/1
3 3Meadow Dance (KY)Keeneland Sales Graduate Shaun Bridgmohan 118 Brad H. Cox 6/1
4 4Honey Bunny (KY)Keeneland Sales Graduate Florent Geroux 122 John Alexander Ortiz 8/1
5 5Headland (KY)Keeneland Sales Graduate Tyler Baze 118 Steve Hobby 9/2
6 6Awestruck (KY)Keeneland Sales Graduate Irad Ortiz, Jr. 120 George R. Arnold, II 9/2
7 7America's Tale (KY)Keeneland Sales Graduate Jose L. Ortiz 122 Bernard S. Flint 3/1
8 8Ascot Day (KY) Declan Cannon 120 Daniel C. Peitz 6/1