Although the featured Christiana Stakes at Delaware Park on June 19 came off of the turf, that didn't seem to present any real problems for Medaglia d'Oro's sophomore daughter Souper Escape as she had broken her maiden on the dirt in her second career start. A winner on the turf as well, the versatile filly didn't disappoint and provided her owner and breeder, Live Oak Plantation, with an exciting, hard-fought Stakes win.
The three-year-old filly broke well and settled just behind the pacesetter through six furlongs. As the field began to enter the final turn, Souper Escape pulled ahead and led the field into the stretch. Although she was headed a couple of times down the lane, she fought back bravely to eventually draw off to win by two and one-half lengths.
Souper Escape is out of G1 Oak Leaf Stakes winner Cry And Catch Me (by Street Cry) a half to European Champion Certify (by Elusive Quality).This is also the family of Champion racehorse and Champion Sire Habitat.
Medaglia d'Oro is the sire of 30 Stakes performers in 2019 - seven Group or Graded winners - including G1 winner Elate, recent winner of the G2 Fleur de Lis Stakes at Churchill Downs, and G1 Rosehill Guineas winner Crown Prosecutor. With the 2019 sales season soon to get underway, it should be noted that Medaglia d'Oro was the sire of eight million dollar yearlings last year. Watch for his first select yearlings selling at Fasig-Tipton Saratoga in August.
