Root like crazy for Escape Clause

Hey there, time traveller!
This article was published 10/09/2019 (2545 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

If you’re a staunch Manitoba homer, you’ll be rooting like crazy Saturday afternoon for Manitoba’s greatest horse ever, Escape Clause, to win a $200,000 race at Churchill Downs, home of the Kentucky Derby.

As her trainer, Don Schnell, says: “She needs to make it to the winner’s circle because she’s going on the auction block in Kentucky on Nov. 4 and her value is dependent on whether she’s better than most other fillies and mares out there.”

The five-year-old mare, bred in Russell, Man., has earned more than $1 million and her owners are looking for close to that amount at auction.

She suffered a setback of sorts in her last race when she finished a disappointing third in another $200,000 race on Aug. 17 at Thistledown race track in Ohio. But she had an excuse, Schnell said. A blood test after the race showed a low blood count which means she was suffering from a virus.

“A vet said it wasn’t just bad, it was terrible,” Schnell said of the blood count.

You can watch and wager on Saturday’s race, the Locust Grove Stakes, at the track, of course, or on your phone or computer if you have signed up for an HPI (Horse Player Interactive) wagering account.

Note another event at the Downs this Saturday: the third and final Manitoba Night Market and Festival from 3 to 11 p.m. It’s been a very popular event at the Downs with more than 10,000 attending each of the first two.

The 50-day live race season ended Sunday but there’s still a buzz over a couple of events from the final days:

• A six-year-old chestnut gelding named Deep Explorer trained by last year’s leading trainer, Jerry Gourneau, was crowned the best of the best in the Gold Cup Stakes when he not only got into a spirited duel with the front runner in the 1 1/8-mile race but exploded from all six of his pursuers to win by seven lengths. It was one of the best races of the year.

• There was shrieking and cheering in the lobby at the Downs when Curtis Markusson, 39, an avid golfer, model and actor, won $51,375 when he chose the jackpot card, the ace of diamonds, in the Chase the Ace game that has been running all season to raise funds to find good homes for retired race horses.  

Curtis said he came to the track that night with a good feeling he could win it so he can take his best friend to Scotland to play golf at the storied St. Andrews golf course.

Action continues daily at the Downs with Las Vegas-style racing from top tracks from 11:30 a.m. to past midnight, VLT play from 9 a.m. to 2 a.m. (with free tournaments at 8 p.m. on Fridays and Saturdays), $10 buy-in poker and certified Angus prime rib buffets every Thursday which start on Sept. 26.

Go, Escape Clause, go!