Mystical Escapade showed she's starting to round into shape after winning the $10,500 Open Trot at Buffalo Raceway on Friday night (June 6).

Starting in just her third race since November 15, a stubborn Mystical Escapade went wire-to-wire and held off a fast-closing Heartsaregonnaroll by a diminishing neck in 1:59.2 for trainer/driver Shawn McDonough.

Last season, Mystical Escapade had eight victories and nearly $90,000 in earnings. She had finished in fourth and fifth in Open competition in her first two starts of 2014.

Scoring from the inside post, Mystical Escapade ($7.50) put up fractions of :30.1, 1:00 and 1:29.1 and enjoyed a two length lead at the three-quarter pole. In the drive for the wire, Heartsaregonnaroll put in a valiant effort in the passing lane, but came up a disappointing neck short. Fiorentina (Kevin Cummings) showed late trot and finished third.

The victory was the first of the season for Mystical Escapade (Valley Victor-Armbro Orbital). The five-year-old mare is owned by Empowered Racing and now has earned $6,615 in 2014 and $156,318 lifetime.

Friday was also a memorable night for 33-year-old provisional driver Bradley Jackson as he steered Mister Briunski ($10.60) to a gate-to-wire win. Jackson earned his first pari-mutuel victory in just eight career starts.

(Buffalo Raceway)