From today's Times Union:
Dubai Escapade won't run
When last seen, a 4-year-old filly named Dubai Escapade was dominating the Grade I Ballerina at Saratoga Race Course.
She won't be running Saturday against the boys in the $2 million Sprint.
Dubai Escapade has inflammation in her front ankle, but it seemed as if the filly wouldn't race even if she had been healthy. That's because of Henny Hughes, the favorite for the Sprint.
Henny Hughes is owned by Zabeel Racing International, run by Sheikh Rashid from Dubai. Dubai Escapade is owned by Sheikh Mohammed's Darley Stable. Mohammed is Rashid's father.
"If Henny Hughes wasn't in there, it would be a no-brainer, we would definitely be running," Eoin Harty, Dubai Escapade's trainer, said.
Harty knows his filly would have to run the race of her life to beat the boys. Dubai Escapade has won six of eight career starts, all against fillies.
Fillies won three of the first 22 runnings of the Sprint. Before he left for Lexington on Tuesday morning, Harty allowed a visitor to go into the stall and take a look at his muscular filly.
"She is a huge physical specimen," Harty said. "If that is what rocks your boat -- looking at impressive race horses -- this will rock your boat."
The defection of Dubai Escapade allows Lewis Michael, who has one win in eight starts this year, to get into the Sprint.
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