Three-year-old trotting filly Valentine Bluechip lived up to her honour as the heavily backed favourite in the second of three $20,000 Ontario Sires Stakes Grassroots divisions at Woodbine Mohawk Park on Tuesday, Sept. 10, delivering a 2-1/2-length victory in the swiftest time among the divisions of 1:55.
The sophomore fillies met for the final leg of the regular season for their division with their finals slated for Sept. 28 at Woodbine Mohawk Park and consolations on Sept. 27.
Bet down to 1-9, Valentine Bluechip went to the gate with Doug McNair on board on the rail. The filly eased off the gate into fifth while point-leading Mass Cara (Austin Sorrie) took the top with an opening quarter in :27.4. Mass Cara trotted to the midway point uncontested in :57.2. After that mark, McNair was the first to pull the right line and move Valentine Bluechip first-up to contest the leader. Valentine Bluechip progressed quickly and poked a head in front at the three-quarters in 1:26.2. From there, the filly moved up and out, finishing the center of the track by 2-1/2 lengths in 1:55. Exciting Mia (Chris Christoforou) followed her cover to second with Shetrotsalot (Scott Young) rounding out the top three.
Trained by Gregg McNair for owner Anthony Timmins, Valentine Bluechip is a three-year-old daughter of Muscle Mass and the Royatly For Life mare Shesa Sweetheart. With just a win and a third in two starts as a freshman, the filly has showcased a career year this year, standing at 6-1-0 in eight starts with $79,250 of her $89,790 lifetime sum banked as a sophomore. She paid $2.10 for the win.
Rhythm Of Life ($2.90) trotted a career-best 1:55.3 mile to take the first of the OSS Grassroots splits of the evening. Bob McClure was back in the bike for trainer Shawn Steacy as they won from post seven by 2-1/4 lengths.
Landmark 16 Racing Stable, Glengate Farms, Carmen Chrysdale and Guy Haskell co-own the Muscle Mass-Royal Rhythm filly. Rhythm Of Life earned her fourth straight win and is now five-for-16 on the year. From 23 career starts, she has six wins and $125,197 in earnings.
Love Those Legs ($2.80) and Louis-Philippe Roy completed the trio of stakes divisions, winning from post seven by three-quarters of a length in 1:55.2 as the bettors' choice.
Luc Blais trains the Kadabra-Legzy filly for Determination. With a new lifetime mark in the mile, she recorded her third win of the year in 12 starts after a winless, seven-race rookie campaign. She has banked $71,906 in lifetime earnings.
To view Tuesday's harness racing results, click the following link: Tuesday Results - Woodbine Mohawk Park.
(Standardbred Canada)