After waging war with Greek Beach in Saturday’s $12,000 Fillies & Mares Open Pace at Fraser Downs, Red Star Hottie eventually prevailed for trainer Robert Merschback

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With James Burke at the lines, Red Star Hottie remained parked to the opening quarter in :27.3 before settling in third as Im Bossy (Gord Abbott) and Greek Beach (Scott Knight) traded places in front.

Red Star Hottie, one half of the favoured entry, waited until the :57.1 half-mile mark before tipping out and moving up for the challenge. The four-year-old As Promised-Whitehorse Fever mare looked Greek Beach in the eye at three-quarters in 1:25.3 and inched ahead but Greek Beach fought back and led the way into the stretch.

Picking up momentum, Red Star Hottie forged ahead and kicked away by three lengths in late stretch. She stopped the clock in 1:55.2 over a sloppy track with Greek Beach finishing second and Im Bossy third.

Surrey’s Robert Murphy owns the winner of five races in 13 starts and $40,320 this year. Red Star Hottie now boasts 14 wins and $172,110 on her lifetime record.

To view Saturday's harness racing results, click here.