Valentine Blue Chip looks to be headed into the 2024 Ontario Sires Stakes Grassroots Finals in fine fettle, as the three-year-old trotting filly tuned up for a probable appearance in next week's season finale with an off-the-pace score on Thursday, Sept. 19 at Woodbine Mohawk Park.

Doug McNair sat sixth with 3-5 choice Valentine Blue Chip in a $18,000 event for Grasroots starters as longshots Hope N Glory (Sylvain Filion) and No One (Bruce Richardson) tussled through stanzas of :28.3 and :57.3. McNair was on the move with Valentine Blue Chip at the half, but had more than 10 lengths to make up as some of her rivals also shifted into the two path in front of her.

As the leaders hit the third station in 1:26.4, McNair found himself fourth over with Valentine Blue Chip and started her shift into a wider path. The fillies fanned six wide in the stretch, with Valentine Blue Chip widest of all. Saving ground to the inside was Exciting Mia (Chris Christoforou) and coming down to the wire it was those two trotters in a sprint to the finish. Valentine Blue Chip got the best of Exciting Mia, three-quarters of a length the best, with the mile timed in 1:55.3. Rhythm Of Life (Bob McClure) completed the top trio.

Anthony Timmins of Birmingham, Great Britain owns Valentine Blue Chip (Muscle Mass - Shesa Sweetheart), who now sports a 8-1-1 summary from 11 starts with nearly $99,000 in earnings. Gregg McNair trains the sophomore, who paid $3.20 to win.

Team McNair also captured the $18,000 Grassroots starters dash for three-year-old trotting colts as Scintillating Tom ($4.60) — an eight-time runner up in 13 starts this year — shook his bout of seconditis for breeder-owners  Tom & Liz Rankin of St. Catharines, Ont. for a 1:54.1 tally.

The second leg of the $8,000 Pop-Up Series for $8,000 claimers featured new winners as Heresthatmanagain ($2.10) cruised to a comfortable 1:53.3 tally for driver Tyler Borth and Rene Bourassa. Mach Silver ($5.90) also prevailed in 1:53.3 in his division for driver Brett and trainer Ron MacDonald.  The first $8,000 leg of a Pop-Up Series for $8,000 claiming fillies and mares also went postward, and Del Diggity ($3.90) delivered as the public choice for driver Tyler Borth and trainer Cliff McGguire. Time of the mile? You guessed it: 1:53.3.

For the results from Thursday's card of harness racing in Campbellville, click the following link: Thursday Results - Woodbine Mohawk Park.

(Standardbred Canada)