"We brought her down here to earn money to qualify for the Jewels [Ashburton on June 4] and she did the job," Blair Orange, her driver said.
Escapee collected a $3030 winning stake.
She ran the 2200m in 2.56.9, 1.2sec inside the New Zealand record for a 2yr-old filly set by Friendly Persuasion in 2001.
Escapee was within 0.4sec of the record for all genders. She was 1.5sec inside the Forbury Park track record set by Lady Segil in 2005.
Escapee is trained at Rolleston by Mark Purdon and Grant Payne for Christchurch breeder, Trevor Casey, who has had considerable success as an owner. He is the breeder and part-owner of Pocaro, winner of 12 races and a contender for the Rowe Cup tonight. Pocaro, also trained by Purdon and Payne, won the 3yr-old division of the Harness Jewels in 2009, the same year she won the Hambletonian at Ashburton.
Africa (13 wins), Belle Galleon (12), King Sands, Guru and Royal Rascal are others Casey has raced. He was a regular visitor to Forbury Park when he operated a horse transport business. He switched to a restaurant franchise four years ago.
He bred Escapee from a mating of Sundon and Una Bromac, who won him eight races. Escapee is her second foal.
Escapee qualified at Ashburton on March 22. She ran second to All Shook Up first up at Rangiora. She finished fourth in the New Zealand Trotting Stakes in her other start but she was disqualified after leaving her gait in the closing stages.
"She has got a bit to learn but were very pleased with the way she began in her first standing start tonight and led," Casey said.
A start for Escapee in the $60,000 Sires' Stakes Final at Addington next Friday will be considered but a late payment of $7000 will be required.
Orange drove three winners and a second from five drives last night. He returned to Rolleston after the meeting. He was due home at 3.30am before catching a midday flight to Auckland.
His drives tonight include Dancing Diamonds (Sires' Stakes Final) and Lancome (Messenger).
