Connections Consider Options for Escape Clause

Escape Clause already has accomplished something that escapes most horses: winning 19 races in just 28 starts.

The 5-year-old mare bred in Manitoba, Canada, captured the Jan. 12 La Canada Stakes (G3) by 5 1/2 lengths under Tyler Baze for owner-trainer Don Schnell—cementing her standing as one of the biggest Cinderella Stories in recent years.

By Going Commando—Danger Pay, by Circulating, Escape Clause is believed to be the first Manitoba-bred stakes winner in Santa Anita Park history. She covered 1 1/16 miles on a wet-fast track in 1:41.89.

"She came out of the race great and we're looking to run here in either the Buena Vista or the Beholder Mile," Schnell said Sunday.

The Buena Vista is a grade 2, $200,000 event at a mile on turf Feb. 23, while the Beholder is a grade 1 on the main track worth $400,000 March 16. "We want to run her back here at Santa Anita; we'll just have to figure out which race.

"She was just built like a horse that was gonna grow up and hopefully be something," Schnell said in reference to buying Escape Clause as a youngster. "I used to say anytime I got a good horse, I'd like to come to Santa Anita and win a race ... and I'm glad I did now."

With the $60,000 earned in the La Canada, her first graded stakes win, Escape Clause increased her career earnings to $423,500.