Making only his second start after an impressive Maiden Special Weight debut score at Gulfstream Park on February 20, ESCAPIST held his challengers at bay through the stretch to win this about six-furlong sprint on the inner turf course at Belmont Park in New Course Record time. The 3-year-old colt from STROLL‘s first crop since returning from Italy to stand in the U.S. set the pace along the rail after breaking from post nine in this 12-horse field. Put to a drive as they hit the stretch, ESCAPIST turned back his race-long follower and then dug in to turn back another, getting to the wire in front by 1/2 length. The final time was 1:09 for the new course record.
ESCAPIST, after banging the gate at the start in his debut, led at every call to win going five furlongs on the turf by 4 1/4 lengths. Bred and raised by Claiborne Farm out of the stakes-placed ARCH mare, Bend, the colt is a half-brother to GSW Clearly Now (by HORSE GREELEY). ESCAPIST was a $31,000 yearling purchase out of the Keeneland 2012 September sale by Peter Pugh who trains and is a co-owner, along with Cherry Knoll Farm.