Bailey and Escena Skip Away to Vanity Victory

One Grade I stakes victory down and one to go for jockey Jerry Bailey in his latest trip to California.

Twenty-four hours before Skip Away tries to run his win streak to seven in the Hollywood Gold Cup, heavily favored Escena, ridden by Bailey, won the $350,000 Vanity Invitational Handicap Saturday at Hollywood Park.

Escena, in winning her fourth consecutive graded stake for owner Allen Paulson and trainer Bill Mott, withstood a bid by 22-1 shot Housa Dancer at the top of the stretch and eventually pulled away for a two-length victory in 1:48 for the 1 1/8 miles.

The Vanity was the 10th victory in 26 starts for Escena, who paid $2.80 as the 2-5 favorite and earned $210,000 to increase her career total to $1,872,639.

Tracking 6-1 second-choice Different through slow fractions (24 3/5 and 48 1/5) for the half-mile, Escena took over after six furlongs and was never headed.

“I was pretty much where I thought I would be,” Bailey said. “I saw [Housa Dancer] move up on the outside, but I was going to let my mare run the turn. She runs ‘em very well. She showed what she’s made of today. It’s a pretty good start to a big weekend.”

This wasn’t the first stakes win in California for Escena. She won the Ramona Handicap on turf at Del Mar last Aug. 2, but it appears she will remain on the main track for the time being.

“Dirt is probably her better surface,” said Simon Bray, who saddled the winner in Mott’s absence. Mott stayed in New York with Countess Diana, who was fourth in the Mother Goose. “I don’t see any reason for Bill to put her back on the turf now.”

Housa Dancer, making her second start of 1998 after winning a seven-furlong allowance race three weeks earlier, finished 10 lengths clear of Different, then came Fleet Lady, Corona Lake, Real Connection and Sonja’s Faith, who stumbled badly at the break.

Horse Racing Notes

Taking advantage of a good trip after being outrun early, Jersey Girl made it six consecutive wins, beating an unlucky Keeper Hill, the 5-2 favorite, to win the $200,000 Mother Goose on a rainy day at Belmont Park. Jersey Girl ran the 1 1/8 miles in 1:47 3/5. Keeper Hill, who had traffic trouble on the turn, rallied for second under David Flores. . . . Favored Cote D’azur got the lead in the stretch and went on to beat Belgravia by half a length in winning the $71,650 Jim Murray Handicap at Hollywood Park.