After suffering her first two defeats of the season, Valentine Blue Chip (Muscle Mass) rebounded with an impressive performance in the Ontario Sires Stakes Grassroots division for three-year-old trotting fillies at Woodbine Mohawk Park on Tuesday (Sep. 10).
Patiently settling in fifth position, Valentine Blue Chip watched as Mass Cara (Austin Sorrie) set the pace with fractions of :27.4 and :57.2. Heading into the final turn, Doug McNair unleashed Valentine Blue Chip, and the filly surged past her rivals, taking the lead at three-quarters in 1:26.2.
Entering the stretch with a commanding four-length lead, Valentine Blue Chip drifted slightly but maintained her momentum, crossing the finish line two-and-a-half lengths ahead in a time of 1:55. Exciting Mia (Chris Christoforou) charged late to claim second, while Shetrotsalot (Scott Young) finished third.
Valentine Blue Chip, trained by Gregg McNair for owner Anthony Timmins of Birmingham (GB), has now won six of her eight starts as a three-year-old. She began the season with five consecutive wins before a runner-up finish in the Ontario Sires Stakes Gold division.
In the first division, Rhythm Of Life (Muscle Mass, Bob McClure) secured victory after taking control past the half-mile mark. Despite a challenge from former leader Flirty Dancer (Tyler Jones), Rhythm Of Life pulled away in the final eighth to win by two-and-a-quarter lengths in 1:55.3, a new personal best. Flirty Dancer held on for second, with Hope N Glory (Jody Jamieson) closing for third. This marked Rhythm Of Life’s fourth consecutive win and her second Grassroots triumph of the season.
In the final division, Love Those Legs (Kadabra) powered to a hard-fought victory. Driven by Louis-Philippe Roy, the filly moved from fourth on the backstretch to challenge leader Mass Money (Travis Henry). Love Those Legs gained a one-length advantage and held off a strong challenge from Mass Money to win in 1:55.2. Radical Legacy (Tyler Jones) finished third. This win marked Love Those Legs' second Grassroots win of the season and her third overall victory.
Rhythm Of Life’s win also secured her the top spot in the preliminary standings with 176 points. The Grassroots Championships are set for Sep. 28 at Woodbine Mohawk Park.