from harness publicists across North America

Friday’s (Nov. 8) edition of Racing Roundup features results stories from Batavia Downs, Vernon Downs and Saratoga Casino and Raceway.

Mystical Escapade scores in Batavia Open Trot

Batavia, NY — Mystical Escapade was sent off as the heavy 1-4 favorite in the $8,500 Open Trot on Friday night at Batavia Downs and the 4-year-old mare didn’t disappoint as she scored a neck victory over another mare, Fiorentina, in 1:57.4.

Paul White photo

Mystical Escapade was a narrow winner in a time of 1:57.4.

It was Mystical Escapade’s third win in her last four starts in the Open Trot and it stamped her as a top contender for Trotter of the Year at Batavia Downs.

It looked like it was going to be a romp for Mystical Escapade (Greg Merton) as she took over the lead from Lutetium just before the three-quarter marker and looked like a sure-fire winner down the stretch. But Fiorentina (Ken Holliday) gobbled up ground late in the lane and came up a neck short as Mystical Escapade ($2.70) had just enough left in the tank. The pace-setting Lutetium (Kevin Cummings) held on for third.

The victory was the eighth in 2013 for Mystical Escapade (Valley Victor-Armbro Orbital). She is owned by Empowered Racing and trained by Carl Smith. The win pushed her impressive seasonal total to $86,011 and $147,577 lifetime.

The fifth race produced one of the biggest $2 win mutuel prices in Downs history when Extreme Balance with Jack Flanigen in the sulky pulled off the major upset at odds of 168-1. The Jim Graham trainee returned $338 to win.

— Brian J. Mazurek

Vernon Downs
Little Santamonica posted a gate-to-wire victory in the final $12,000 Fillies and Mares Open Pace on Friday night at Vernon Downs. Chris Lems did the teaming for trainer Jordan Hope as Little Santamonica led through splits of :27.1, :56.1 and 1:24.3 en route to a 1:52.4 decision over Bijou Theater in Friday’s second session. It was the first local score, but the seventh season’s tally for the 5-year-old daughter of Little Steven-Tonianne, who is owned by Kelly Dawn Hope. The brave-hearted brown mare now sports 17 career victories and earnings of more than $108,500. Lems, the local campaign’s second-leading reinsman after 87 programs, earned four first-place finishes during Friday’s 11-race card to reach the 100-win plateau. Driver Truman Gale also visited Vernon’s Blue Chip Farms winner’s circle four times during the program, while driver Adam Capizzano and trainer Robert C. Gale each recorded two victories.

Saratoga Casino and Raceway
Victom As (Striking Sahbra) won the Open Trot on Friday night at Saratoga Casino and Raceway in 1:58.3. Trainer-driver Harry Landy moved the 6-year-old trotter out to the lead in a quick opening quarter of :28.1 and held tough, turning back a host of rivals before hitting the line first. Victom As was making just his second start in more than two months and followed up a third place finish last week with a victory in the $15,000 Friday feature. Slugfest (Phil Fluet) was the Open’s runner-up for the third straight week while Easy Strength (Sam Schillaci) closed for third. Landy scored a training and driving double as his Fandango Dancer (Revenue S) prevailed earlier in the night.