Adam Coglianese
Maiden winner Escapefromreality far outran his 16-1 odds in Aqueduct’s Grade 3, $200,000 Withers – the first race in New York on Churchill Downs’ “Road to the Kentucky Derby” series – and nearly took home all the marbles save for some last-to-first heroics by 3-5 favorite Revolutionary.
Trained by Dominick Schettino for Mary Ellen Bonomo’s MeB Racing Stables LLC, who co-owns the gelded son of Read the Footnotes with breeder Anthony Bonomo’s Brooklyn Boyz Stables, Escapefromreality was making his first start beyond six furlongs in the Withers.
Facing state-breds in his first two starts, Escapefromreality broke his maiden impressively on the Aqueduct main track on November 25 and missed a repeat victory against winners by just a neck on the inner on December 28 under Ramon Dominguez.
NYRA/Susie Raisher
Reunited for his sophomore debut with Jose Ortiz, aboard for the maiden victory, Escapefromreality broke alertly and led the field into the first turn before taking back to stalk a close-up fifth behind Grade 2 Jerome runner-up Siete de Oros.
After enjoying a ground-saving trip up the backstretch and around the far turn, Escapefromreality angled out three wide at the top of the lane, kicked into gear and grabbed the lead just past the sixteenth marker. Nearly home free, he was collared by in the final strides by Revolutionary, who wove his way through traffic from last place, split horses and dove to the rail to get up by a neck in the final strides.
Siete de Oros finished 1 3/4 lengths back in third, followed by Amerigo Vespucci, Champion Boy and New York-bred Smooth Bert – who contested the pace and led briefly in the stretch. Valid, who stumbled disastrously at the break, and Long River completed the order of finish. After an opening quarter-mile in 24.22 seconds and half in 48.18, the final time for 1 1/16 miles was 1:44.32.
Escapefromreality, who is one of 369 horses nominated to the 2013 Triple Crown series, earned 4 points in the Kentucky Derby points standings from his runner-up finish in the Withers. The next stop on the Road to the Derby in New York is Aqueduct’s Grade 3 Gotham on March 2 followed by the Grade 1, $1 million Wood Memorial on April 6.
Trainer Dominick Schettino was pleased with the big effort and the patient ride by Jose Ortiz. “Before the race the only question mark was the distance, but his second and third dam won going long,” Schettino said. “Depending on how [Escapefromreality] comes out of the race, how he trains, we’ll look at the Gotham and Wood.” Schettino added, “He’s easy to train, very calm and relaxed.”
Foaled at Meadow View Thoroughbreds in Canajoharie, Escapefromreality, who has now earned $82,000, is the first foal from Queen of the City, an unraced New York-bred daughter of Medaglia d’Oro bred by Frank Mancini.
Queen of the City, whose first and second dam were stakes placed, was purchased by Anthony Bonomo for $52,000 at the 2007 Fasig-Tipton New York preferred yearling sale. Her only other reported foal is a 2-year-old filly by Utopia. Queen of the City has since changed hands, purchased by MR Racing at the 2012 Keeneland January sale for $11,000.
Read the Footnotes is a former top-ten New York sire for Sequel Stallions, where he stood from 2006 to 2011 before relocating to Oklahoma for the 2012 breeding season.
