River Escape impressive on debut at Parx

Essential Quality's two-year-old daughter River Escape was the easiest of winners on debut on November 5 at Parx, becoming the 14th winner for her freshman sire.

River Escape broke last of all in the six-furlong dirt maiden special weight, but she recovered quickly and moved up to mid-pack down the backstretch. She continued to make up ground with a sweeping four-wide move around the turn before taking the lead at the top of the stretch and pulling away under a hand ride to win geared down by more than six lengths.

Bred in Pennsylvania by Jon Marshall, River Escape is out of the multiple G3 winner Tricky Escape (by Hat Trick), a daughter of Stakes winner Island Escape and a half-sister to G3-placed Felifran.

Two-time Eclipse Award winner Essential Quality is also the sire of Nashua Stakes winner My World, Ellis Park Debutante winner Chopsticks, Clever Trevor Stakes winner Essential Time, plus Keeneland debut MSW winner Confessional (85 Beyer), recent 7-length Gulfstream MSW winner Bull by the Horns, and Saratoga debut MSW winner Aye Eye.

Essential Quality will stand the 2026 breeding season at Jonabell Farm for $25,000, stands and nurses.