Souper Escape doubles up in graded stakes at Woodbine

TORONTO, August 16, 2020 – Fresh off a victory in last month’s Trillium Stakes, Live Oak Plantation’s homebred filly Souper Escape doubled up in Grade 3 stakes action winning the $125,000 Seaway Stakes on Sunday afternoon at Woodbine Racetrack.

Luis Contreras was reunited with the Michael Trombetta trainee, who was cutting back in distance from 1-1/16 miles to seven furlongs for the Seaway, another main track stakes event for fillies and mares three years old and up.

Gamble’s Candy shot through at the rail to take the lead from the quick-leaving Sister Peacock through a :22.65 opening quarter and she held the lead to the half in :45.21 while Souper Escape stalked the top pair in third.

Contreras made his move approaching the final turn, tipping Souper Escape three-wide alongside the leaders, and the four-year-old Medaglia d’Oro filly drew off to win in 1:22.10.

Amalfi Coast and Painting rallied from the backfield to finish second and third, just noses apart one length behind. Another Time headed Sister Peacock for fourth while Charmaine’s Mia, Miss Mosaic and Gamble’s Candy completed the order of finish.

“There was a lot of speed in the race, so I didn’t want her to go and fight with the speed like crazy,” said Contreras, now a two-time Seaway Stakes winner (2017, Ami’s Mesa). “So she relaxed behind those horses and I just took my time to make the right move.”

Souper Escape, who also won the 2019 La Lorgnette Stakes over Woodbine’s Tapeta course, now boasts six victories and has earned $326,915 from 16 career starts.

She paid $6.20 to win as the 2-1 bettors’ choice.

Live Thoroughbred racing continues at Woodbine on Thursday with post time for the first of eight races set for 3:20 p.m. Racing Night Live begins at 6 p.m. on TSN with the two-hour broadcast covering action from Woodbine Racetrack and Woodbine Mohawk Park.