by Jeff Renton, media/communications, the Woodbine Entertainment Group

Toronto, October 22… Though Hurricane Wilma was nowhere near Toronto on Saturday evening, the weather was miserable just the same as Woodbine hosted the continent’s best freshmen in the Fall Four, along with a terrific undercard topped by the C$100,000 Gold Cup for Free For All pacers.

The incessant downpour and sloppy conditions certainly didn’t impede Escape The Wind in the Gold Cup as the talented five year-old gelding charged home from mid-pack to overwhelm an elite field in 1:51.3.

Driven by trainer Roger Mayotte for owners Venture 2000 Stable and Early Bird Stables of Mississauga, the millionaire son of Artiscape defeated Casimir Camotion by 1 ½ lengths, with pacesetter Admirals Express a gallant third after setting testy fractions from post position 10.

Escape The Wind, who has to constantly battles allergies in addition to horses during the summer months, was in vintage form on this night as he notched his sixth win in 24 starts in 2005.

“He doesn’t seem to be quite as sharp in the summer heat and with his allergies as he is during the rest of year,” noted Mayotte. “Last week (a sixth place finish in the Open Pace) was my fault not his. I overdrove him. It was windy and the track was heavy and I just went too much with him.

“Tonight, the front end didn’t seem to be holding up, so my plan was to race him from the middle. I was happy to follow Ponder, but he was gapping on Mario (Baillargeon driving Power Park), and I had to tip early. He did the rest.”

Sent off at odds of 8-1, Escape The Wind returned a handsome $18.80 and topped a $369.50 triactor.