Argentine Star Great Escape to Join Correas in U.S.

After the Lecomte Stakes (G3) Jan. 16 at Fair Grounds Race Course & Slots, there will be several connections with Derby aspirations. One thing for sure, however, is that by mid-week there will be a Derby winner on the grounds.

Great Escape—a son of Equal Stripes and a 15-length winner of the Nov. 28 Gran Premio Nacional (G1), also known as the Argentine Derby, at Hipodromo Argentina de Palermo—is slated to join trainer Ignacio Correas' barn Monday or Tuesday.

The horse's move to the United States was first reported by Turf Diario.

Great Escape, out of the Catcher In The Rye mare Green Rye, was bred by Abolengo and is raced by Francisco Fraguas of La Frontera. He'll maintain ownership in North America.

Correas, a native Argentinian who has trained internationally and is currently based at Keeneland and Fair Grounds, made headlines with another South American import: Blue Prize, a group 1 winner in her native country and winner of the Longines Breeders' Cup Distaff (G1) and Juddmonte Spinster Stakes (G1) in 2019 for Merriebelle Stable and Correas.

Great Escape has made three starts in Palermo. He debuted in group 1 company, finishing sixth in the Sept. 11 Estrellas Juvenile at a mile, then broke his maiden by 12 lengths going about nine furlongs Sept. 30. Over heavy going in the Nacional, he finished well clear of his rivals.

"He's a very impressive horse. I'm thrilled to have a horse of that quality," Correas said. "He's a running son of a gun. We are going to try to have a good experience with him. He's in Miami (in quarantine), and he'll be at the barn Monday or Tuesday. He's a gorgeous horse."

"He's been trained by Jorge Neer, who is a very good friend of mine. He was the trainer of Blue Prize," Correas added.

While it is exciting to have a Derby winner in the barn, don't expect to see Great Escape racing soon.

"I'm a big believer that the South American horse needs time not only for acclimation but to learn," Correas said. "These horses have run at completely different tracks. The turns are a lot tighter here than the ones at home. Everything is new for them. You have to give them time to learn and to take it easy. He'll tell us when he's ready to go. It usually takes five to six months.

"When you look at the campaigns of all the really good South American horses that have raced here, if the first campaign is good, the second one is great. Look at Paseana, Festin, Blue Prize (ARG)...the older they get, the better they get."

Correas notes Fraguas knows he has to wait and is willing to do the right thing with the horse.

Correas has been very successful with Argentine imports, including Wimborne Farm's Kasaqui, a grade 2 winner who ran second in the Arlington Million XXXIV Stakes (G1T) in 2016, Blue Prize, and Dona Bruja, a group 1 winner in Argentina and the runner-up in the 2017 Beverly D. Stakes (G1T).

"I've had two really good horses from Argentina and they both were successful here and I hope I can do the same with this one," Correas said. "Kasaqui wasn't that good in Argentina but was good here, but Dona Bruja and Blue Prize were really good in Argentina and I think they translated their form here fine."