by Sandra Snyder, for the Ontario Sire Stakes

Campbellville, ON — The second showdown between 2-year-old trotting fillies Chelseas Chance and Diamonds For Life resulted in the fastest of five Ontario Sire Stakes Grassroots divisions at Mohawk Racetrack on Monday (July 29).

After finishing one-two in the July 6 season opener at Kawartha Downs, the fillies squared up for their second battle in race nine and engaged in an early tussle for the lead with Diamonds For Life reaching the quarter in :29.1 and Chelseas Chance taking over before the :58.4 half. Fan favorites Chelseas Chance and driver Steve Condren sailed on to a 1:29 three-quarters and were more than one length ahead when they hit the stretch, but reinsman Trevor Ritchie and Diamonds For Life were sitting on a little extra speed.

When Ritchie asked his filly for one last charge, Diamonds For Life powered by Chelseas Chance to score a 1-1/4 length victory in 1:59.2, matching the personal best they recorded in the July 13 Grassroots event at Georgian Downs. Ritchie engineered the Angus Hall-Jayportcashforlife filly’s second straight victory for trainer Mark Steacy and owners Frank Spagnolo and Frank Schimizzi.

Diamonds For Life and Chelseas Chance are now tied for second in the point standings, trailing Muscle Girl, who picked up her third straight Grassroots win in the sixth race. Driver Mike Saftic guided the filly to a 1:59.3 win off a front-end trip for Ray Paquette, who bred, owns and trains the Muscle Mass-My Witch daughter.

Valencia Sol recorded her first lifetime win in the first $17,460 division, circling out three-wide to grab the 2:01.4 victory. Greg Dustin trains and drives the Amigo Hall-Armbro Diana miss for Jackie Drysdale and Darlene Hayes.

The other Grassroots divisions were captured by Bit A Magic (2:00.4) and Wawona (2:00.4). The 2-year-old trotting fillies make their fourth Grassroots start at Georgian Downs on Aug. 6.

On Monday (Aug. 5), Mohawk Racetrack will host the second Mid-Summer Challenge of the 2013 Ontario Sires Stakes season, welcoming the top 20 2-year-old trotting colts and fillies from the Gold Series division.

For complete results go to this link.