Hug The Wind N sat patiently off a quick pace before catapulting to a 1:51.3 victory in the $14,500 Open Pace at Saratoga Casino Hotel on Saturday, Aug. 25.

The Rich Banca trainee started from post position four in the eight-horse Open Pace with driver Jay Randall in the sulky. Sitting off early fractions of :26.1 and :54, Randall gave the seven year old the cue and the response was instant. Maxdaddy Bluechip also came from the back of the pack in the Open when he surged three wide and appeared ready to swoop to the lead. But Hug The Wind N shifted gears and breezed by Maxdaddy Bluechip and a host of others in the stretch before coming on to win. Maxdaddy Bluechip finished second while Americanprimetime earned third.

For Hug The Wind N, who went winless in 2017, it was victory No. four on the season and his first at Saratoga. The invader paid $14.00 to win in the mild upset and led an exacta and triple that came back $236.50 and $1,886, respectively. With the earnings from the Open score, Hug The Wind N moved his career bankroll to just shy of the $400,000 mark.

Live racing resumes on Tuesday, Aug. 28 at Saratoga with a first post time set for 7:05 p.m.

(With files from Saratoga Casino Hotel)