Great Escape pulled clear in the final furlong of the $200,000 Canadian Derby (G3) to score a 3 ½ length win in what was track-record time for the 3-year-old son of Midnight Storm.
The dark bay colt is the first graded stakes winner for his sire, who was a graded winner on both turf and dirt from ages three through six.
Great Escape, coming off a strong second in the Manitoba Derby just 19 days prior to Saturday evening’s contest. Stretching out to 1 ¼-miles for the first time, Great Escape was just a head from the lead as the field passed the wire for the first time. He pressured Red Knobs closely through a mile before taking the lead in upper stretch and drawing off in the final furlong to stop the timer in 2:01.35 on a fast track.
Well-traveled Great Escape broke his maiden last September at Churchill Downs and is now 2-4-0 in nine starts and has earned $226,386. He is trained by Robertino Diodoro for Arnold Bennewith, Rick, Clayton & Lana Weist, Randy Howg and R6 Stables.
Great Escape, a $200,000 purchase at the 2020 Fasig-Tipton Kentucky Select Yearling sale, was bred in Kentucky by Usquebaugh Stables LLC. His dam Chickasaw Gal previously produced a pair of winners and foaled an American Pharoah filly this year.