Mystical Escapade was sent off as the heavy 1-4 favourite in the $8,500 Open Trot Friday night (Oct. 8) at Batavia Downs and the four-year-old mare didn't disappoint as she scored neck victory over another mare, Fiorentina, in 1:57.4 over the fast track.

The win was Mystical Escapade's third 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. However, Fiorentina (Ken Holliday) gobbled up ground late in the lane, but came up a neck short as Mystical Escapade ($2.70) had just enough left in the tank. The pacesetting 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 driver Jack Flanigen in the sulky was able to spring the major upset at odds of 168-1. The Jim Graham trainee returned $338 to win.

Racing resumes on Saturday night with a 12-race program on tap. The $8,500 Open Pace is set for the seventh race as What The Sheik is the 5-2 morning line choice with Ray Fisher Jr. scheduled to drive.

(Batavia Downs)