Dubai Escapade, who began her racing for Sheikh Mohammed in the Godolphin name in England, was at her best this year. She won the Ballerina Breeders' Cup (gr. I) and Vagrancy (gr. II) Handicaps in New York and the Vinery Madison Stakes (gr. II) at Keeneland by a total of more than 19 lengths. As a 3-year-old, she won in Dubai.A half-sister to grade I winner Madcap Escapade, Dubai Escapade is out of the Saratoga Six stakes-winning mare Sassy Pants, who is a half-sister to two stakes winners.Dubai Escapade will reside at one of Sheikh Mohhammed's Central Kentucky farms. Breeding plans are undecided.
Dubai Escapade, who was scheduled to run in the TVG Breeders' Cup Sprint (gr. I), has been retired instead. A day after a five-furlong workout of :59 3/5 at Churchill Downs in preparation for the race, the 4-year-old daughter of Awesome Again was found to have inflammation in a front ankle. Trained by Eoin Harty for Sheikh Mohammed's Darley Stable, she retired with six wins from eight starts and earnings of $427,050."The workout wasn't what (trainer) Eoin wanted to see," said Jimmy Bell, president of Darley USA. "She needed to be 100%. Sheikh Mohammed felt it was in her best interest to retire her."At the 2004 Barretts March sale of 2-year-olds in training, Dubai Escapade was the star attraction. Her price of $2 million was a world record for a juvenile filly sold at auction.
