DUNDAS, ON — Although last week’s elimination did not go quite as planned for Grassroots Champion Busta Balls, the three-year-old trotting filly is hoping to make a bigger splash on the Gold scene in Friday’s $130,000 Final at Flamboro Downs.

“She was a bit on one line, that’s why she made the break at the gate,” explains Flamborough resident Shirley Burra, who shares ownership on Busta Balls with trainer Marcel Hebert of Dundas, breeder Erminio Ciani of Toronto and Elaine Van Every of Hagersville. “But we have all the confidence that we have the problem fixed.”

In her Gold Series debut last week, Busta Balls made a break at the start of the mile, but bounced back to finish fourth and qualify for Friday’s Final. The Must B Sunny daughter and driver Scott Coulter will start from Post 1 in the $130,000 contest and Burra hopes the advantageous post position brings Busta Balls as much luck as it did in the Oct. 15 Grassroots Championship at Georgian Downs where she posted a narrow victory to claim the division title.

“When I heard the draw, that was like an omen because she had the rail in the Grassroots Final,” says Burra. “And if she can make a break on the gate and come back to be fourth — we’ve got a shot.”

Busta Balls’ appearance in the last Gold Series event of the season was part of a plan mapped out by her connections months ago, well before she won the Grassroots crown. They felt that the filly’s familiarity with the Flamboro Downs oval and her ability over a half-mile track would stand her in good stead against the province’s top fillies.

“We skipped the last Grassroots so we could put her in to race at her home track; she wouldn’t have to ship and she’s used to racing at Flamboro,” notes Burra. “And not too many of the Gold fillies race on a half mile track, so that gives us an advantage.”

Busta Balls heads into Friday’s test with a record of two wins, three seconds and three thirds in 18 starts and earnings of $75,517. Raced just three times as two-year-old, the trotting lass has always impressed her owners with her determination and heart.

“She’s got the heart, her heart has always been there,” says Burra. “She gives her everything, she gives it all.

“She’s a heck of a filly, but if it wasn’t for her trainer, Marcel Hebert, she wouldn’t be where she is today,” adds the owner. “He is the best with trotters, ever. And he’s 67 years old, he just turned 67 on Saturday.”

Busta Balls will attempt to deliver the ultimate birthday gift to Hebert from Post 1 in the eighth race on Friday, where she will meet up with elimination winners Proud Passion and Whatthehecklavec from Posts 5 and 7. The first race of the afternoon rolls onto the Dundas oval at 2:45 pm.

For a complete list of entries please go to:

http://www.standardbredcanada.ca/entries/data/eflmdfr.html#N8