Dubai Escapade kept her streak going with an easy 4 3/4-length victory Wednesday in the Vinery Madison (gr. II) for older fillies and mares at Keeneland.Though the 4-year-old Awesome Again filly had an outside post, she quickly sprinted to the lead from the 10 hole and gained control.Under Edgar Prado, Dubai Escapade was on top by two before the field had run an eighth of a mile in the seven-furlong contest. Though the fractions were quick – :21.97 and :44.67 – she was on an uncontested lead and coasting all the way. Dubai Escapade's winning time of 1:22.34 eclipsed the previous stakes record of 1:23.33 set by her half-sister, Madcap Escapade, last year. "All I can say is that I was a very, very happy passenger," Prado said. "I don't think anyone was going to go by her. She was full of run every step of the way." Trained by Eoin Harty for Sheikh Mohammed's Darley, Dubai Escapade has won four straight races after dropping her first lifetime start as a 2-year-old in England. Wednesday's victory was worth $124,000 as Dubai Escapade increased her lifetime earnings to $181,050."She really hasn't had a lot of experience, but every race she seems to get better and better," Harty said. "She's maturing and filling out and, if I can just keep her mind right, she'll last a long time."It was a fantastic performance," he added. "The fractions were very fast. She was on her own and had a chance to relax on the turn, and I think that is why she had something left in the stretch."Out of the Saratoga Six mare Sassy Pants, Dubai Escapade was a $2 million 2-year-old. Needham/Betz and James Blackburn bred her. Harty said he had no idea where Dubai Escapade would run next."I don't really have any plans in mind yet," he said. "I'll talk to the Godolphin team and let them decide for me."Josh's Madelyn, who needs speed to run at, finished second, simply unable to catch the front-runner under Terry Thompson. Ever Elusive, who showed good speed throughout with John Velazquez aboard, finished third."She ran well, but the speed on the rail has been dangerous all day," Thompson said. "We passed a lot of horses, and she ran a great race to be second. But the winner got an early lead, and it was hard to pass her."Dubai Escapade paid $4.40, $3.80, and $2.60, while Josh's Madelyn returned $7 and $4.80. Ever Elusive was worth $3.40.Then came Beautiful Bets, Island Escape, Givemeomore, Bending Strings, Malibu Mint, and Atlas Valley. Flying Glitter and Silver Crown scratched. (Chart, Equibase)
Dubai Escapade wins fourth in a row with easy victory in Vinery Madison.
Anne M. Eberhardt