After opening her 2006 campaign on a tear, DUBAI ESCAPADE (Awesome Again)
didn’t fire when making her Grade 1 debut in the Princess Rooney H. (G1) last
time out, fading to a well-beaten sixth as the 1-5 favorite. The multiple Grade
2 winner is better than that, and Sunday’s $250,000 Ballerina Breeders’ Cup S.
(G1) at Saratoga will offer a chance for redemption. The four-year-old filly
will face six rivals in the prestigious seven-furlong test.
Dubai Escapade opened her racing career on the turf overseas in 2004 and
dropped her lone appearance as a juvenile. She raced only once in 2005, winning
a maiden special weight event on the main track in Dubai, and then made quite an
impression when making her U.S. debut at Gulfstream Park this winter, winning an
allowance event by 7 3/4 lengths. Following a victory over allowance/optional
claiming rivals, Dubai Escapade made her stakes bow in the seven-furlong Madison
S. (G2) at Keeneland and posted another authoritative decision. The Eoin Harty
trainee rolled to a six-length score in the Vagrancy H. (G2) next out, but she
failed to carry her momentum forward at Calder in the six-furlong Princess
Rooney.
The added ground is a plus, and regular rider Edgar Prado sticks with the
likely favorite. Dubai Escapade is the 122-pound co-highweight.
Princess Rooney heroine MALIBU MINT (Malibu Moon) will also carry 122 pounds,
and the James Chapman-trained filly owns a good start over the track, finishing
a fast-closing second in the Honorable Miss H. (G2) on August 4. The
four-year-old lass will also receive a jockey switch to Garrett Gomez.
Argentinean Group 1 winner STORMY KISS (Arg) (Bernstein) recorded a game win in
the Honorable Miss and appears to be improving for conditioner Barclay Tagg.
She’ll be an early factor with Javier Castellano.
Grade 2 queen NOTHING BUT FUN (Dixie Union) has won her last four starts at a
mile or less and could be dangerous cutting back in distance off a fifth in the
Go for Wand H. (G1). The Ballerina will mark the stakes debut for INDIAN FLARE
(Cherokee Run), who exits a smashing 6 3/4-length victory at the Spa for Hall of
Fame trainer Bobby Frankel. Vagrancy runner-up HIGH BUTTON SHOES (Carson City)
and Honorable Miss fourth-placer GRECIAN LOVER (Friendly Lover) are also in the line-up.
The field in post parade order is High Button Shoes, Eibar Coa, 117; Nothing
But Fun, Richard Migliore, 117; Stormy Kiss, 119; Dubai Escapade; Malibu Mint;
Grecian Lover, John Velazquez, 115; and Indian Flare, Rafael Bejarano, 115.