Freshman trotters rolled into Tioga Downs last night for a special Thursday evening race card in the Tompkins-Geers stakes. When the dust settled multiple track records had fallen.
Leading the way for the freshman trotting fillies was Check Me Out from the always-powerful Ray Schnittker stable, which brought 15 freshman to Tioga Downs for the 'Geers.'
Check Me Out left from Post 5 and led the way at every mark of the race before Jeff Gregory moved Blue Yonder out of the pocket to take a shot at the leader. However, Schnittker was sitting chilly on his two-year old and easily stormed to victory and shattered the track record for two-year old trotting fillies in 1:56. Schnittker shares ownership of Check Me Out with Charles Iannazzo of New York. Cowgirl Hall (driven by Fern Paquet, Jr.) came on late to be second, while Blue Yonder (Jeff Gregory) had to settle for third.
“She did it so easy tonight, I had a ton of trot left in her and if I would have asked her to she could have trotted in (1:) 54 tonight. She is from the first crop of [Donato Hanover] and I have seven of them and they are pretty impressive. She was just spooky-good tonight,” Schnittker said following the victory.
In the Geers for the two-year old trotting colts, A Penny Earned (Jeff Gregory) was hard pressed to clear to the lead past the three-eighth-of-a-mile mark, but took control and never let up. He trotted through fractions of :59.2 and 1:28.1 before easily drawing clear of the field to stop the teletimer in a new mark for two-year old trotting colts (1:57.4). A Penny Earned is now a perfect two-for-two in his young career for trainer George Ducharme and the partnership of Ross, Fontaine, Ducharme, and Oliva.
Other division winners for two-year old trotting fillies include: Miss Fidget – Ed Lohmeyer, 1:59.4 (Conway Hall – So Wonderful), Real Babe – Ray Schnittker, 1:59.3 (Donato Hanover – Housethatruthbuilt), Dream On Hanover – Brett Miller, 1:59.2 (Andover Hall – D Train), Lima Playmate – Ray Schnittker, 1:58 (Credit Winner – Pacific Legacy), Valentine Queen – Ray Schnittker, 1:59.3 (Andover Hall – Queen Of Jewels), Maven – Jeff Gregory, 1:56.3 (Glidemaster – M Stewart). Division winners for the two-year old trotting colts and geldings included: Delano – Ray Schnittker, 1:58.1 (Credit Winner – Kelly Hall), Sunpine – William Bailey, 1:59.3 (Equinox Bi – Caselton Pine), Royal Shyster – Dan Daley, 1:58.4 (Rc Royalty – The Planet), Flyhawk Jester – Dan Daley, 2:00.4 (Rc Royalty – Graduation Party).
Schnittker recorded five driving victories out of the 15 trotters he brought with him Thursday night to Tioga, while Jeff Gregory and Dan Daley each scored doubles.
(Tioga)