Checks On The Way destroyed a field of classy distaffers in the $24,000 Mares Open Pace at Miami Valley Raceway on Friday night. Her 1:51.2 clocking, in her first start back after a two-month break, was two full seconds faster than any of the previous five Friday night features thus far in the meet.
Trace Tetrick, confident the five-year-old daughter of Believeinbruiser was ready after a winning 1:55 qualifier eight days earlier, fired the winner from the starting gate and enjoyed a two-length advantage when the quarter mile marker was reached in :27. Checks On The Way extended the lead throughout the remainder of the mile, posting middle fractions of :55.4 and 1:23.2. A :28 final quarter netted a comfortable 5-1/2 length victory for the 9-5 favourite who returned $5.60 to her win backers.
Colorful Sky (Sam Widger), who was last week’s Mares Open winner, closed well for runner-up honours but was no match for razor sharp Checks On The Way. Allbeastnobeauty (Tyler Smith) grabbed the show dough; while Sandy Sue (Chris Page) and Eliza Dushku N (LeWayne Miller) secured the minor spoils.
Trainer Tyler George co-owns Checks On The Way with Scott Tyler. With 23 triumphs in 77 career tries, she now boasts earnings of $179,779, almost half of which was banked in 2019 during her four-year-old season.
(Miami Valley Raceway)