by John Pawlak, the U.S. Trotting Association

Delaware, OH — She may or may not be versatile, but she’s fast: Autumn Escapade, who had been winless in two starts in the Ms Versatility Series, won the $93,500 final on Thursday (Sept. 23) at the Delaware County Fair with a first-all-the-way effort in a world record-equaling 1:53.2 victory.

USTA/Mark Hall photo

Autumn Escapade won the $93,500 final in a world record-equaling 1:53.2.

Sent quickly to the top, out-stepping Windsong Soprano (Ron Pierce) and Buck I St Pat (Tim Tetrick), Autumn Escapade benefitted from a speed-favoring track to dominate. Her aforementioned closest pursuers finished second and third, respectively.

After chasing Elusive Desire and finishing third in the first leg of the series, and finishing second to Southwind Wasabi in the second and final preliminary leg, drawing the rail for the final no doubt was a help on Thursday.

Winning driver David Miller owns the 5-year-old Victory Sam mare in partnership with his wife, Misty, and she is trained by Jonas Czernyson. She won for the fourth time in 16 starts this year and returned a handsome $10.00 to win.

“She’s pretty steady and she had the post position on them today and was able to get her own fractions — but she was able to hold the other mare off,” David Miller said. “She is aces. Buck I St Pat, to be able to beat her, is such a thrill. I think the biggest part about it is that I own part of the horse — so that makes it even better.”

— Kim French also contributed to this report