by Ken Weingartner, Harness Racing Communications

Ken Weingartner

Freehold, NJ — Three-year-old trotter Mystical Escapade will return to the races in a few months and there is a chance she will provide her owners with some memorable wins this season. But no matter what she does during the remainder of her career, Kevin Lakomy already feels a debt of gratitude to the filly.

For him, she is unlikely to ever produce a more unforgettable victory than her triumph last October at The Red Mile. Thanks to Mystical Escapade, Lakomy got a final trip to the winner’s circle with his brother, Wally.

Walter Lakomy passed away Feb. 27 after a three-year battle with cancer. He was 41.

“I was really hoping (Mystical Escapade) would win that night,” Lakomy said. “I had tears in my eyes going to the winner’s circle. It was a bittersweet night knowing it was probably the last time we were going to be in a win photo together. It’s always going to have special meaning.”

Lakomy and his father, Dennis, own horses under the Mystical Marker Farms stable name. They have raced a number of standout horses, including multiple-stakes-winners Manofmanymissions, Classic Photo and Dreamaster. Dennis Lakomy was inducted into the Illinois Harness Horsemen’s Hall of Fame in January 2010.

Nigel Soult photo

Kevin Lakomy (left) received the trophy for Mystical Escapade’s win at The Red Mile while brother Wally (right) looked on.

“I love harness racing,” said Lakomy, who lives in Chicago, as did Wally. “The sport means a lot to us. Wally wasn’t as into the racing as much as I was, but it was still a bond we shared together. Even though he was sick, he really wanted to go to The Red Mile last year for the Grand Circuit. I was so glad we had a chance to spend this trip together, just the two of us. We had such a great time.”

Mystical Marker Farms shares ownership of Mystical Escapade with Dean Miller’s DM Stables. A daughter of Valley Victor-Armbro Orbital, she won three of 10 races and $29,003 last year.

In addition to her win at The Red Mile, Mystical Escapade won a division of the Standardbred Stakes for 2-year-old filly trotters at the Delaware County Fairgrounds in Ohio.

“She should be a solid trotter as a 3-year-old,” Lakomy said. “We’re hoping for big things out of her.”

Of course, Mystical Escapade has delivered one big win already.

“It might as well have been the Hambletonian,” Lakomy said, referring to trotting’s premier event. “It was definitely a great moment. She will always have a special place in all of our hearts.”