Never saw the episode (we snuffed our cable guy years ago), but after reviewing the website synopsis on it, it appears that this one was produced before Daly began competing with Pikes Peak!

The episode was written by Jackson Gillis, one of Columbo's original writers (e.g. Suitable For Framing, Requiem for a Falling Star). He also wrote for the original Perry Mason series, the first season of which comes to DVD in July, and later for Murder, She Wrote. No wonder this is a solid episode.