Check Me Out left little doubt that she is the dominant three-year-old trotting filly of her generation, scoring a two and a half-length victory in a world record 1:51.3 in the 12th race, the $245,500 Del Miller Memorial.
The mile erased the three-year-old trotting filly record of 1:51.4 set by Highscore Kemp in 2009 at DuQuoin, IL and the Miller stakes record of 1:52.3 held by Peaceful Way since 2004.
Check Me Out [$3.00, $2.10, $2.10], a daughter of Donato Hanover out of Illusion Bi, was on the lead at every call, extending her winning streak to five. Win Missy B [$3.00, $2.60] was second best with Personal Style [3.60] five lengths back in third.
“You never know, but I had a lot of confidence in my mare,” said winning driver Tim Tetrick. “She’s a champion, and it’s well-deserved. She’s definitely a contender [for the Hambletonian]. Colts are always tough but she’s as good anything out there.”
“She’s a killer, and she’s a lot better off the pace,” said Ray Schnittker, the trainer and co-owner with Charles Iannazzo of Tappan, NY. “Probably right now, I’m leaning toward the Hambo [with the colts instead of the Oaks for fillies], but I’ve got to do some thinking. It’s my call.”
Check Me Out now has five wins and one second in six starts this year and a career total of 19 wins and three seconds from 22 starts. Her bankroll now exceeds $1.4 million thanks to victories in the Elegantimage at Mohawk and the Hudson Filly at Yonkers.
