CAMPBELLVILLE, ON — The second showdown between two-year-old trotting fillies Chelseas Chance and Diamonds For Life resulted in the fastest of five 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 9 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 favourites Chelseas Chance and driver Steve Condren of Milton 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 Acton resident Ritchie asked his filly for one last charge, Diamonds For Life powered by Chelseas Chance to score a one and one-quarter 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 filly’s second straight victory for trainer Mark Steacy and owners Frank Spagnolo and Frank Schimizzi of Ottawa.

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 of Campbellville guided the filly to a 1:59.3 win off a front-end trip for Ray Paquette of Port Hope, who bred, owns and trains the Muscle Mass daughter.

Valencia Sol recorded her first lifetime win in the first $18,000 division, circling out three-wide to grab the 2:01.4 victory. Greg Dustin of Strathroy trains and drives the Amigo Hall miss for Jackie Drysdale of Orangeville and Darlene Hayes of Carlisle.

The other Grassroots divisions were captured by Bit A Magic (2:00.4) and Wawona (2:00.4). The two-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 two-year-old trotting colts and fillies from the Gold Series division.

For complete results please go to Mohawk Racetrack Entries