Two-year-old trotting fillies were out in full force Monday evening at Mohawk Racetrack as the Campbellville oval hosted five Grassroots divisions of the Ontario Sires Stakes, with each tilt offering a purse of $18,000.
Valencia Sol was a bombs away winner in the first division for trainer/driver Greg Dustin, who mapped out the winning trip for the daughter of Amigo Hall-Armbro Diana who was discounted by many handicappers at odds of 30-1. She used off-the-speed tactics to win by 1-1/2 lengths over Muscle Mannequin in 2:01.4. Third prize went to A W.
The maiden-breaking homebred, who was sixth in her pari-mutuel debut, is owned by Jackie Drysdale of Orangeville and Darlene Hayes of Carlisle, Ontario.
Bit A Magic also came up with an upset in her division, but it was just a 6-1 surprise for the daughter of Kadabra-PJs Nestle. Anthony MacDonald brushed her to the front in the backstretch and she led the way through middle splits of :58 and 1:29 en route to the win by 2-1/4 lengths over Indira Blue Chip in 2:00.4. Mount Juliette rounded out the top three in the 11-filly affair.
Ron Parsons trains the trotting lass, who won for the first time in her career, for Herbert Martin of Oshweken, ON. The lion’s share of the purse bumped her earnings to $11,100. She was a $4,200 purchase from last year’s Forest City Yearling Sale.
Wawona also celebrated a maiden-breaking victory, and she joined the parade of upsetters thanks to her 5-1 score in the third division. The daughter of Kadabra-Too Busy To Cook, who was seventh heading into the final quarter, used a :29-second closing quarter to win by half a length over Andrea Lea in 2:00.4. Northern Secret took home the show dough.
Rene Dion trains the rookie, who was out of the money in her first two starts, for Ecurie Gaetan Bono Inc of Montreal, QC.
Muscle Girl, after winning her first two starts, kept her undefeated record intact with a 1:59.3 score in the fourth division for driver Mike Saftic and trainer Ray Paquette. The homebred daughter of Muscle Mass-My Witch led through intervals of :28.2, :59.1 and 1:29.4 before using a :29.4 closing to kick away to win by 2-1/4 lengths over Charstruck. Wonderland Snow came on strong to finish third.
Sent off at odds of 3-2, Muscle Girl pushed her cash stash to $27,000 for owner/breeder Cedar Valley Farms of Port Hope, ON.
Diamonds For Life turned a two-hole trip into a 1:59.2 tally in the final division for the tandem of driver Trevor Ritchie and trainer Mark Steacy. The daughter of Angus Hall-Jayportcashforlife, stalked race favourite Chelseas Chance through middle fractions of :58.4 and 1:29 before hauling down that previously undefeated filly in the lane. Diamonds For Life won by 1-1/4 lengths over Chelseas Chance, with third prize earned by OHO Diamond.
Mark Steacy trains Diamonds For Life for Ottawa partners Frank Spagnolo and Frank Schimizzi. The win improved the filly’s record to 2-1-0 from three trips to the track and the $9,000 payday increased her bank account to $22,500. Tom Porchak of Woodstock, ON, bred the filly who was a $10,000 purchase from last year’s Canadian Yearling Sale.
To view results for Monday's card of harness racing, click the following link: Monday Results – Mohawk Racetrack.