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Check Me Out remains perfect with PASS win

August 19, 2011
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There may have been $222,536 in total purses on the line in four divisions of Pennsylvania Sire Stakes for 2-year-old filly trotters Friday afternoon at Harrah’s Chester, but all eyes were focused on the match-up in the second split between Check Me Out, six-for-six in her career, and Maven, perfect in four starts.

Emerging from the race with her record intact was the Merrie Annabelle winner Check Me Out, who trotted to a 1:55.2 track-record victory. Maven had to settle for third after making a break approaching the three quarters while in close pursuit of Check Me Out.

Check Me Out, driven by Tim Tetrick, got away third as the 2-5 betting favorite but was quarter-pole moved to the front, reaching the half well ahead of the :57.2 clocking. Heading toward the three-quarter pole the Yannick Gingras-driven Maven went on a break while sitting third, leaving only the pocket-sitting Superstar Hanover and Dave Palone with any chance of an upset.

Under a confident stretch drive by Tetrick, Check Me Out held Superstar Hanover at bay to win by a length. Now seven-for-seven over her career, the daughter of Donato Hanover has career earnings of just under a quarter-million dollars for owners Charles Iannazzo and trainer Ray Schnittker.

The first PASS split went to Sand Violent Blu, who overcame being forced three wide early in the mile as he was moved to the lead by driver Brett Miller to score in 1:56.2. What made Sand Violent Blu’s win easier despite the tough early going was that there was a parade of breakers behind him throughout the mile. Delicious, driven by Matt Kakaley, chased Sand Violet Blu across the finish line five lengths behind, with the stretch-breaking Carry A Torch and Trond Smedshammer holding on for third.

A daughter of Tom Ridge, Sand Violet Blu is owned by breeder Bill Sanders. The win was the Tye Loy trainee’s fourth in six starts, increasing her earnings to more than $60,000.

Love Walked In lived up to her role as the even-money favorite in her PASS split as she cruised to a three-length win in 1:57.1 over Blue Yonder, with Uncommon Knight third.

Driven by Andy Miller, Love Walked In came into the race off a second-place finish behind Check Me Out in the Merrie Annabelle. Trained by Miller’s wife, Julie, Love Walked In is a daughter of Glidemaster owned by Riverview Farms and Michael Parisi.
 
The final PASS split went to Real Babe in 1:56.4. Driven by Tetrick, the daughter of Donato Hanover out of the multiple stakes-winning mare Housethatruthbuilt had a second-over trip down the backstretch but ducked to the inside around the final turn before rallying up the pylons to edge past the leading Bluff in deep stretch to score by 1 1/4 lengths. Sculpted Vanity took third with even-money favorite Oasis Dream fourth.
 
Trained by Schnittker, who also shares ownership with the Real Babe Stable, Real Babe won for the second time in five career starts, lowering her previous mark on Friday by nearly three seconds (she won a Tompkins division at Tioga Downs in 1:59.2 on June 29). The $100,000 yearling purchase has now returned more than $42,000 to her connections.
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