Windsong Leo had to battle for the lead through a demanding :26.2 opening panel, but he faced nary a serious challenge thereafter, rolling home in a career-best 1:49.3 in Saturday’s $18,000 Open Handicap Pace at The Meadows.

After Windsong Leo wrested early supremacy from Carolina Beach, Dave Palone gave him a :29 second-quarter breather. That was all the seven-year-old Jeremes Jet-Windsong Goldie gelding needed, as he downed Carolina Beach by 1-3/4 lengths, with Summer Travel third.

Ron Burke trains Windsong Leo, who lifted his career bankroll to $515,185, for Burke Racing Stable, Weaver Bruscemi LLC and Phillip Collura.

Burke collected four wins on the 13-race program while Mike Wilder and Palone each fashioned a triple.

Live racing at The Meadows resumes Monday, when the card features a $5,000 total-pool guarantee for the Pick 4 (Races 3-6) and a $792.70 carryover in the Pick 5 (Races 2-6). First post is 1:05 p.m.

(The Meadows)