Saratoga Springs, NY — Saturday’s (Sept. 3) card at Saratoga Casino Hotel featured a pair of $16,000 Open Paces, and both races yielded impressive efforts.

Bob Uhl trainee Velocity Smoke entered his division off back-to-back 1:53.1 wins from off the pace in conditioned races, and he was once again a closer in his Open debut. Phil Fluet worked out a cover trip for Velocity Smoke, who fanned off cover at the head of the stretch to power past favored Lake Charles (driven by Luke Hanners) in a seasonal best 1:52.2 and pay $9.70 to win. Talking Tom (Chris Long) was third.

Velocity Smoke rallied from off the pace to win his Open debut on Saturday at Saratoga. Melissa Simser photo.

Uhl co-owns Velocity Smoke with Steve Delligan.

In the other Open, Jackie Greene trainee Moonshine Kisses, bet down to 1-5, took back from a hot early tempo controlled by former Spa Pacer of the Year Crockets Cullen N (Larry Stalbaum). The backfield got into motion late in the mile, and driver Jay Randall fanned Moonshine Kisses wide turning for home. The 6-year-old swept to a 1:52 win over Keystone Dakota (Brett Beckwith) and Crockets Cullen N.

Moonshine Kisses, who paid $2.70 to win, is owned by the Kellogg Racing Stables.

Live racing at Saratoga continues on Sunday at 6:45 p.m. The Pick-5, which starts in the first race, has a $1,131 carryover.