Conrad Photo
DAYTON, OH. - In a thrilling race that wasn't decided until the final strides, Checks On The Way (Trace Tetrick) topped Sugar Dance (Brett Miller) in the featured harness racing $16,700 Open Mares Pace at Hollywood Dayton Raceway on Friday (Dec. 18).
The winning 5-year-old daughter of
Believeinbruiser, who eclipsed the $100,000 seasonal earnings plateau, settled in third during the opening :27 quarter, then launched a first-over attack before the :55.3 midway point in the race.
Although Checks On The Way inched closer before the third quarter beam was tripped in 1:22.3, it wasn't until the stretch was reached that she stuck her head in front. Sugar Dance, foraying into Open company for the first time, dug down deep throughout the stretch duel and the outcome wasn't obvious until the final second of the 1:51.2 battle.