Carolina Beach opted to come from off the pace this week to repeat in the $14,500 Open Pace at Saratoga Raceway on Saturday, June 16.
Driver Wally Hennessey had thoughts of leaving with Carolina Beach, but with too much speed inside of him, backed off with the four-year-old and settled in fifth in the six-horse field. Panocchio made the early lead but was confronted almost immediately by parked out rival Osundland, who made it to top in a half paced in :54.3. Panocchio didn’t sit for long and was quickly back out to confront Osundland, who started to fade past three-quarters in 1:22.3.
Carolina Beach, the race's odds-on favourite, was patiently waiting to pounce. Hennessey pulled wide in the backstretch and Carolina Beach swooped the group before drawing away to win in 1:51.3. Panocchio was the runner-up while longshot Babinga Wood came on to be third.
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Carolina Beach, who is trained by Melissa Beckwith, paid $3.00 to win.
Live racing continues on Sunday, June 17 at Saratoga with a 12:15 p.m. start to the matinee.