DUNDAS, ON — Whatta Hotty rocketed around the Flamboro Downs oval on Wednesday evening to score her first Gold Final victory in a personal best 1:57.3, just one-fifth of a second shy of the Ontario Sires Stakes record for three-year-old trotting fillies on a half-mile track.
Sent off as the favourite by her hometown fans, Whatta Hotty got away from Post 3 in the middle of the field. When Nashotah reached the :28.2 opening quarter, driver Garrett Whelan and Whatta Hotty were sitting comfortably in fifth, just over six lengths off the pace. Heading for the :58.1 half Kadealia started up on the outside in front of Whatta Hotty and Whelan opted to play follow the leader. Unfortunately the game was a short one, as Kadealia ran out of gas around the 1:27.4 three-quarters and Whelan was forced to tip his filly out three wide.
Second by a nose when she turned for home, Whatta Hotty unleashed an impressive finishing kick to earn the one and one-quarter length victory in a smart 1:57.3. Only Lonely, who drew in off the also eligible list when elimination winner Condi Lane was forced to scratch due to sickness, powered home to finish second, and Jayporthasitall followed Whatta Hotty’s three-wide move to get up for the third-place share of the $120,000 purse.
The mile peeled two full seconds off Whatta Hotty’s best sophomore clocking and three-fifths of a second off the 1:58.1 she recorded as a two-year-old. Coming hot on the heels of her elimination win last week, Wednesday was only the second time the daughter of Yankee Paco and Our Kuli Girl has seen the inside of a winner’s circle this season. Through 11 starts the filly now has two wins, two seconds and two thirds to her credit for earnings of $165,175 this season.
Troy resident Jim Whelan trains Whatta Hotty for his partners Clarence, Mary and Terry Devos of Langton. The quartet also bred the filly, who is the third foal from the $333,303 winner Our Kuli Girl.
With the 100 points she earned in last week’s Gold Elimination and Wednesday’s Final, Whatta Hotty now sits tied for third in the division standings and is virtually assured a berth in the $300,000 Super Final at Woodbine Racetrack on Nov. 15.
The Gold Consolation went to Stormont Countess, who took command of the race at the half and simply accelerated away from the field to a five and three-quarter length triumph in 1:58.1. Valley Courtney stepped in for second, while fan favourite Hamster Dance settled for third.
Norm Jones trains Stormont Countess for breeder Stormont Meadows of Long Sault. Young reinsman Jonathan Drury engineered the victory, the Kadabra daughter’s second of the season.
Whatta Hotty will have one opportunity to defend her Gold Final crown when the three-year-old trotting fillies gather at Rideau Carleton Raceway on Oct. 5 for their last set of Gold Eliminations.
Ontario Sires Stakes excitement continues unabated at Flamboro Downs this Friday as the Dundas oval welcomes seven divisions of two-year-old pacing filly Grassroots competitors. Post time for Friday’s program is 6 pm.
For complete results please go to: http://www.standardbredcanada.ca/results/data/rflmdwe.html.