Sent the 4-5 favourite, Carolina Beach fired from an outside post and blazed to a 1:52.1 victory in the $14,500 Open Pace at Saratoga Casino Hotel on Saturday, Aug. 11.

Driver Wally Hennessey moved the Melissa Beckwith-trained pacer out to the early lead. Laying down fractions of :27 and :55.4, Carolina Beach had something left for the stretch run to prevail while holding off Texas Terror N and securing his second consecutive win in the Open and eleventh victory overall in the 2018 campaign. Texas Terror N was the runner-up while long-shot Rise Up Now took third.

Rene Allard’s Eclipse Me N swooped her competition to take the co-featured $14,500 Fillies & Mares Open Pace. Leading-driver Billy Dobson worked a cover trip for the 6-5 favourite as Eclipse Me N drafted second-over behind the track’s defending Pacing Mare of the Year Truth And Liberty.

Eclipse Me N made a powerful move around the final turn and drew out to win by a length and half, stopping the timer in 1:53.2 for her sixth victory on the year. Spreester came from last to finish second while long-shot Better Said was third.

Live racing resumes on Tuesday, Aug. 14 at Saratoga with New York Sire Stakes competition highlighting the 13-race card. Two-year-old pacing colts and geldings will be featured in stakes action. First post time is set for 7:05 p.m.

(With files from Saratoga Casino Hotel)