Woodbine Mohawk Park: Freshmen fillies compete in Tompkins-Geers

The Tompkins-Geers Stakes on Thursday evening at Woodbine Mohawk Park offered the first view of 2-year-olds in Grand Circuit action for 2025. Rookie fillies took part in three Tompkins-Geers divisions on Thursday, with two for trotters and one for pacers.

Th Check Me Out stormed home in 26 3/5 to win the C$56,350 Tompkins-Geers for 2-year-old pacing fillies.

Driven by Tyler Borth, Th Check Me Out got away fourth and would follow a rotation to the lead, touching down on the front ahead of 57 2/5 half. The Blake Macintosh trainee led the field to three-quarters in 1:26, holding the lead over co-favorite A Bets A Bet. In the stretch, the two favorites pulled away from the rest of the pack, with Th Check Me Out holding A Bets A Bet back by a length and a half for the 1:52 3/5 victory.

A $32,000 (USD) Harrisburg yearling purchase, Th Check Me Out is now two-for-two to start her career after winning Mohawk's first 2-year-old race of the season on June 13. She's owned by Ozzie Mackay, Macintosh, Gilles Landry and James Giannuzzi.

"You never know what they're going to do first time on the front," said Macintosh of the Cattlewash filly. "She's been following along and hasn't been on the front other than training and she kicked home good, so we're happy."

Lds Kimberly and Lds Sabeanna rounded out the top-four finishers in the pacing filly event.

Th Check Me Out returned $4.10 to win.

► Sign up for our FREE DRF Harness Digest Newsletter

The C$27,200 first Tompkins-Geers split for trotting fillies saw Ill Have The Red rocket home in her career debut for trainer/driver Rick Zeron.

A daughter of Chapter Seven, Ill Have The Red went off as the 4-5 favorite after an impressive 1:58 4/5 victory in her lone qualifying attempt on June 12. Sitting a gapped out third for most of the opening three-quarters of a mile, Ill Have The Red unleashed a furious stretch kick to split rivals and win by 2 1/4 lengths in 1:57.

"I don't think the performance was really all that great," said Zeron. "She went into the first turn tonight and decided to start bearing in on me. I had to watch myself coming out of the turn, and I lost about 10 or 12 lengths, then she did it again around the last turn, so I lost about another five lengths.

"Then at the head of the stretch I yelled at her and said 'it's time to go' and off she went."

Despite the turn trouble, Zeron noted the $70,000 (USD) Lexington Select Yearling purchase has big talent.

"She can fly, can outright fly...just some little thing is bothering her this week and I'll have (Dr.) Hennessey come in and have a look at her and we'll straighten it out."

Ill Have The Red is owned by Rick Zeron Stables, James Walker and Johnny Marvento.

I Take The Cake finished second in the first division after following early leader Walners Grove, who finished third, through fractions of 28 2/5, 59 and 1:28 3/5.

A $2 win ticket on Ill Have The Red returned $3.90.

A Splash Of Green gave trainer Macintosh two wins in the Tompkins-Geers and three overall for Thursday's card with a victory in the C$27,200 second trotting division.

Driven by James MacDonald, A Splash Of Green stepped out to the lead and never looked back for a 1:56 1/5 victory. The daughter of Green Manalishi S posted fractions of 29, 59 2/5 and 1:28 1/5 prior to a 28 second final kicker for the clear victory.

Canukeepasecret followed in second throughout and just held that spot over Cupid Hall.

A C$55,000 London Classic Yearling Sale purchase, A Splash Of Green was making her career debut Thursday after three qualifiers, which included a break in the second outing.

"She's been great, she just rolled off on me the second time," said MacDonald. "Last week Blake had her fixed up and again tonight she was just sensational and tons of trot left finishing, so that's exactly how you want to start their career."

A Splash Of Green is owned by Tim Klemencic, Macintosh, Andy Klemencic and Chris Storms. She paid $4.90 to win.

Outside of Thursday's Tompkins-Geers, Macintosh-trained 2-year-old filly Sugar Packet turned heads with a 1:55 3/5 victory. The daughter of Six Pack was making her career debut and was driven by Jody Jamieson.

Sugar Packet was an $11,000 (USD) Lexington Select Yearling purchase and is now the fastest 2-year-old filly trotter in North America this season. She's owned by Macintosh, Mackay and Bay Pond Racing Stable.

Live racing continues Friday evening at Woodbine Mohawk Park with the Tompkins-Geers Stakes for 2-year-old colts and geldings. Post time is 6:35 p.m.

--press release (Woodbine Mohawk Park)--