Check Me Out defeats males in Friday's Open Trot

Check Me Out with trainer/driver Ray Schnittker

The $1.8 million career-winning trotter Check Me Out made her appearance at Vernon Downs a notable one in Friday's $10,000 Open contest, finishing first in 1:54.

Co-owner, trainer and driver Ray Schnittker was in the sulky as the fan favorite idled in third to the quarter (timed in :27.2), accelerated to the lead at the half (:55.2) and then dominated from there, defeating She's All In, the nearest of her five foes by 1-1/4 lengths.

Friday's ninth-race tally was the second this season and the 27^th all-time for the productive 4-year-old daughter of Donato Hanover-Illusion Bi, who is also registered to Steve Jones.  Check Me Out's dominating performance increased her official career earnings to $1,878,545.  She secured her 1:51.2 record at the Lexington "Red Mile" last year.

The Regina Dewhurst-owned trotter Ziegler Hanover used a quick-striding late rally to capture Friday's 11^th race in 1:55, and become the winningest equine performer of the track's 60^th anniversary season.  Chris Lems did the driving for former Downs conditioning champ Dave Dewhurst, as the 8-year-old horse rallied three-wide from fourth in the final quarter to defeat the Tioga Downs-shipper What About Brian by less than a length, chalking up his eighth local success of the 67-program campaign.  Having recorded five first-place finish in his last six starts, the steady-striding son of Andover Hall currently has an 8-7 edge over fellow trotter Ulay Boko and the pacer Hot Cowboy.

Three-time Downs' sulky champ Jimmy Whittemore attained his sixth driving triple of the meet on Friday and moved to within one victory (81-80) of Roman Lopez on the track's current dash-winning chart. 

  

Leading reinsman Rick Plano (122 wins) posted his 19^th double of the meet and is tied with Chris Lems in that category with 19 each as of Sept. 20.  Driver Fern Paquet, Jr. also tallied twice during Friday's 12-race card. 

DOWNS DOINGS—Cary Grady's 3-year-old pacer Jude Hall (1:54),and the Melvin Robert Fuchs-owned 2-year-old sidewheeler Prince Ajani (1:57.4) each earned their initial pari-mutuel victories during Friday's program...Live racing continues with a 13-event agenda on Saturday, that offers a $10,000 Open pace in race two.  First post will be at 6:45 p.m…A revised 2013 racing and stakes calendar, as well as additional information regarding Vernon Downs, its casino, hotel, racing and promotional events can be obtained at www.vernondowns.com.