LONDON, ON — Ontario’s talented two-year-old trotting fillies were right on target Friday night, shattering a Western Fair Raceway track record set in 1993.

Bella Dolce set the template for the evening in the first Gold Elimination, firing straight to the front from Post 1 and rolling unchallenged through fractions of :30, 1:00.4 and 1:30.4. The Kadabra daughter and driver Paul MacDonell sailed across the finish line two and three-quarter lengths ahead of Beyond Limits and Delphic in a track record 2:00.

The mile ripped two full seconds off the former track record, set by the great Armbro Monarch ($670,374) in a Trillium Series division on Oct. 8, 1993.

Bella Dolce, owned by breeder David McDuffee of Nashua, NH, is flawless through three Gold Series starts and boasts a record of six wins in seven starts. Her only loss came in the Sept. 16 Oakville Stakes Final where she finished fourth. Richard “Nifty” Norman trains Bella Dolce, the first foal of $668,824 winner Pizza Dolce.

In the second $35,399 Gold Elimination driver Steve Condren opted to emulate Bella Dolce’s front-end tactics, and sent In Fine Form after the early lead from Post 3. The Striking Sahbra daughter responded with a :29.3 opening quarter before the veteran reinsman backed things off to the 1:01.2 half and 1:32.1 three-quarters.

In Fine Form cruised effortlessly down the stretch to a two length victory over fan favourite Torch in a personal best 2:01.3. Longshot Mirado edged out Lady Merlot for third.

The win was the first in Gold Series action and the second lifetime for In Fine Form, who is owned by trainer William Hamm of Wallacetown and Craig Turner and Mhairi Kersel of Ingersoll. Friday’s victory vaulted In Fine Form into the top 10, giving her a total of 91 points and sole ownership of eighth spot in the standings.

Adopting an �if it ain’t broke, don’t fix it’ attitude, Luc Ouellette sent Somebody To Love to the front from Post 3 in the last Gold Elimination. The reigning Gold Final champion marched around the Western Fair oval in a comparatively sedate 2:02.2, hitting the wire two and one-quarter lengths ahead of Its My Time. Ms Naughty recovered from an early break to finish third, while favourite Windsun Magical was not so fortunate and settled for fifth after going off stride early.

Darren McCall trains Somebody To Love for Mentally Stable Inc. of Delray Beach, FL. Another impeccably bred youngster, Somebody To Love is by Angus Hall and is the first foal from $529,694 winner Pick Me Up.

The top two finishers from each elimination, plus two of the third-place finishers selected by random draw, will return to Western Fair Raceway next Friday, Oct. 12 for the last $130,000 Gold Final on their freshman calendar. Post positions for the regular season finale are as follows:

Post 1 Beyond Limits

Post 2 Its My Time

Post 3 In Fine Form

Post 4 Somebody To Love

Post 5 Torch

Post 6 Bella Dolce

Post 7 Delphic

Post 8 Ms Naughty

Also Eligible 1 Mirado

Also Eligible 2 Foamy

Also Eligible 3 Valley Courtney

For complete results please go to:

http://www.standardbredcanada.ca/results/data/rlonfr.html