Escape Clause drops for Thistledown's Lady Jacqueline Stakes

Grade 3 winners Escape Clause and Mylady Curlin head the third running of Saturday $200,000 Lady Jacqueline Stakes at JACK Thistledown Racino Saturday, with the former taking a step down the class ladder looking for her first victory since March.

Seven rivals will join the Big 2 in the gate for the 1 1/8-mile black type race for fillies and mares 3 years old and up.

Five-year-old Escape Clause has won 20 of her 33 lifetime starts and has finished out of the money only five times. She kicked off this year’s campaign with a 5 1/2-length score in the La Canada Stakes (G3) in January at Santa Anita and two races later added Sunland Park’s black-type Harry Henson to her resume.

Since then, Escape Clause knocked heads with some of the division's best. A runner-up finish in Oaklawn Park's Apple Blossom (G1) ensued, with Escape Clause beaten just a nose by the spectacular Midnight Bisou. She was second in her most recent start as well, beaten 4 1/2 lengths by multiple Grade 1 winner Elate in the 1 1/4-mile Delaware Handicap (G2).

Escape Clause’s regular rider, Tyler Baze, has the mount again Saturday for trainer and co-owner Don Schnell as they break from the rail.

Mylady Curlin will be aiming for her fifth straight win and her third straight stakes trophy when she lines up in the Lady Jacqueline.  In her first foray into stakes competition, she set the pace under pressure to win the Allaire Dupont Distaff Stakes (G3) by a nose at Pimlico on Black-Eyed Susan day. After two months off, she returned July 13 to take Indiana Grand’s listed Mari Hulman George Memorial by nearly four lengths in her most recent start.

Shaun Bridgmohan was aboard for the latter race and will be back in the irons Saturday for trainer Brad Cox.

Both Escape Clause and Mylady Curlin have been splendid on or near the front end, but both are willing to sit behind the pace as well. While they could go at it from the gate, they as likely could let others with early speed, including Obeah Stakes winner Gotham Gala and Stormologist, set the table.

The field for the Lady Jacqueline from the rail out: Escape Clause (jockey Baze); Viva Forever, fourth in the Apple Blossom (Jose Bracho); Stormologist (Jacqueline Davis); Youvegottopaytopla (Erik Barbaran); Crafty’s Dream (Rolando Aragon); Gotham Gala (Daniel Centeno); Bella Dudette (Marco Ccamaque); Mylady Curlin (Bridgmohan); and Flirty (Luis Rivera).

Director of Racing Patrick Ellsworth has carded 10 races Saturday, with a special post time of 1:10 p.m. ET. The Lady Jacqueline will run as the ninth race at 5:10 p.m.