by Ellen Harvey, Harness Racing Communications

East Rutherford, NJ — Check Me Out (Tim Tetrick) set a stakes and track record 1:54.2 to win the $333,200 Merrie Annabelle for 2-year-old trotting fillies on Saturday (August 6) at the Meadowlands. She was “all alone and by herself” in the words of announcer Ken Warkentin.

USTA/Mark Hall photo

Check Me Out set a stakes and track record in Saturday’s Merrie Annabelle for 2-year-old trotting fillies on Saturday at Meadowlands.

The time, in a six length victory, bested the track record of 1:55 previously held by Macaria Hanover in 2005 and the stakes record 1:55 held by Thatsnotmyname in 2010.

Check Me Out is from the first crop of Donato Hanover and is owned and trained by Ray Schnittker and co-owned by Charles Ianazzo. She is out of the Toss Out mare Illusion Bi.

Check Me Out was well off the early pace set by Bluff (Trond Smedshammer) at the :28.1 quarter before yielding the lead to Upside Hanover (Pon Pierce) at the three-eighths. That one put a head in front and held it to the :57.1 half. Check Me Out was put on the outside past the half and just motored to the lead at about the five-eighths marker and was in front at the 1:26.2 three-quarter mark.

From there, Tetrick had Check Me Out on the motor and those two trotted away from the field. Love Walked In (Andy Miller) was second and Upside Hanover (Ron Pierce) was third.

“She’s very, very special,” said Tetrick. “She does everything right, very smart, likes to win. She’s really smart. When I called on her at the top of the lane, she had more gears and just trotted away from them.”

Asked for his impression on the first crop of Donato Hanovers, Tetrick said, “I like them. They’re pretty smart, good gaited and they want to do it. Ray (trainer Schnittker) does a great job, I’m very fortunate to get to drive for him. He always gets them ready and he’s great to drive for.”