Champion Escena Dead at Age 22 in Kentucky

Escena, the champion older mare of 1998, died June 3 at Diamond A Farms near Versailles, Ky.

The daughter of Strawberry Road was 22 years old. She had been pensioned at Diamond A Farms and died of the infirmities of old age.

"She had a great life and went out with some real dignity," Diamond A Farms manager Ted "Mac" Carr said. "She had been retired and got to hang out with her friends and eat some grass. Old age infirmities finally gave out and she decided it was her time. She'll be buried up on a very pretty hill here."

Campaigned by Allen Paulson, Escena held off Banshee Breeze to win the 1998 Breeders' Cup Distaff (gr. I) at Churchill Downs, notching her fifth graded stakes of the season and third grade I score that year.

In that championship season, Escena won the Distaff, Louisville Breeders' Cup (gr. II), and Fleur de Lis (gr. III) handicaps at Churchill; the Apple Blossom Handicap (gr. I) at Oaklawn Park; and the Vanity Invitational Handicap (gr. I) at Hollywood Park. As a 4-year-old, Escena won the Ramona Handicap (gr. I) at Del Mar.

"She was a very nice mare and so much like Strawberry Road, it wasn't funny," said Carr, who had worked with Escena's sire as an assistant to his father, Ted Carr, who had managed Brookside then Diamond A Farms. "Same temperament, (and) looked just like him."

In closing her career with a nose victory in the Distaff, Escena gave Paulson back-to-back wins in that race after Ajina, also by Strawberry Road, won the 1997 Distaff at Hollywood.

Mott noted Escena's ability to respond to a demanding schedule in making her case for an Eclipse Award after she won the 1998 Breeders' Cup Distaff.

"She has withstood the test of a hard campaign and a long year," Mott said at the time. "She has won several grade I races this year, and she traveled to the West Coast to win three of them. I think longevity, durability, and toughness speak a lot for any horse you consider for a championship.

"If that's what you're looking for, along with talent and getting on with it; she's got it all."

Months after closing her career with the Distaff victory, Escena made headlines again when she sold for $3.25 million at the Keeneland January horses of all ages sale. The winning bid was the highest price ever paid for a broodmare or broodmare prospect at the Keeneland January sale, a mark that would fall a year later when Claxton's Slew sold for $3.3 million.

Consigned by Lane's End as agent for Paulson's Brookside Farm, Reynolds Bell Jr. registered the winning bid at Keeneland January on behalf of Guy and Diane Snowden. The Snowdens had watched the 1998 Breeders' Cup with the Paulsons and celebrated with them in the winner's circle after the Distaff.

"We were privileged to be on the sidelines during her racing career when she was raced by the Paulsons. She had such a big personality and loved to compete," Dede Snowden said. "Bill Mott knew how to bring out the best in her and she was a superstar."

To date, Escena has produced five winners, including stakes-placed Indy Scent by A.P. Indy, from nine starters. She has an unraced Rock Hard Ten filly named Herkimer Diamond, and an unnamed Shackleford   yearling. 

Escena will try to add another winner the evening of June 3 when Snowden's Rock Scene, a 4-year-old Rock Hard Ten colt, will start in the third race at Hollywood Casino at Penn National Race Course, a maiden special weight event. 

"I hope Escena will be there in spirit," Snowden said.