In a thrilling race that wasn't decided until the final strides, Checks On The Way topped Sugar Dance in the featured $16,700 Open Mares Pace at Hollywood Dayton Raceway on Friday (December 18). The winning five-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 (Trace Tetrick) 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 (Brett Miller), 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.