Mohawk: Check Me Out sets Canadian record in Elegantimage final

Check Me Out set a track and Canadian record in the C$530,000 Elegantimage final on Saturday night at Mohawk Racetrack. The 3-year-old filly crossed the wire a very short nose in front of Maven in 1:52 1/5.

Win Missy B and Valdonna were the quickest off the gate with the latter assuming command before the quarter in :27 3/5. Win Missy B was back on the move with a brush to the lead at the three-eighths. She cut out fractions of :56 3/5 and 1:24 2/5 before meeting Check Me Out in the stretch.

As the field straightened away for the drive to the wire, Check Me Out edged clear of Win Missy B but would have to deal with Maven, who shadowed her through cover from the moment she pulled past the half. Check Me Out was put to an all out drive and just held off the strong finish from Maven.

“I knew it was really tight,” said driver Tim Tetrick about the photo. “My mare kept fighting all the way through the wire.

“She trotted a heck of a last quarter to win the ace.”

The 1:52 1/5 final clocking was 3/5 better than the previous Canadian record and crushed the prior stakes record of 1:53 2/5.

The victory by Check Me out was her third of 2012 and pushed her career earnings over $1.2 million for owners Charles Ianazzo and Ray Schnittker, who also trains.