DUNDAS, ON — Whatthehecklavec carved another notch in her win column with an impressive victory in Gold Elimination action at Flamboro Downs on Friday afternoon.

The three-year-old trotting filly and trainer-driver Randy Fritz sprinted to the front from Post 6 and were two lengths ahead of the field before the :29.3 opening quarter. Through the 1:00 half and 1:29.3 three-quarters Whatthehecklavec continued to stretch out the distance between her race bike and her pursuers, and a smart finishing kick saw her hit the wire seven and a half lengths on top in 1:59.2.

Fan Favourite claimed the second-place share of the $52,925 Ontario Sires Stakes purse, Southern Senorita trotted home eight and three-quarter lengths behind the winner in third and Grassroots Champion Busta Balls, owned by Erminio Ciani of Toronto, trainer Marcel Hebert of Dundas, Elaine Van Every of Hagersville and Shirley Burra of Flamborough, finished fourth and advanced to next week’s Gold Final.

Friday’s start was the first in seven weeks for Whatthehecklavec and clearly demonstrated that she lost none of her mid-season momentum during the Ontario Sires Stakes lull. Since her July 30 Canadian Breeders Championship victory the Mr Lavec daughter has been no worse than second. Friday’s victory was her eighth in 14 starts this season and bumped her earnings to $242,820.

Fritz, who makes his home in Carlisle, shares ownership on Whatthehecklavec with breeders Jennifer and Gwendowyn Unger of Caledon East.

The other Gold Elimination went to Proud Passion and Rick Zeron, who also fired off the wings from Post 6. The pair laid down fractions of :29, :59.4 and 1:30.2 on their way to a one length triumph over favourite Elena in 2:00.1. What Idid For Love and Heartful Image were separated by a fraction of a length in third and fourth.

Rocco Auciello of Stouffville trains Proud Passion for his partners Richard Morris of Newmarket and Timothy Kane of Little Britain. The Yankee Paco daughter boosted her sophomore record to three wins, three seconds and one third with the triumph, her second straight.

The top four fillies from each elimination will return to Flamboro Downs next Friday, Oct. 28 for their last $130,000 Gold Final. Elimination winners Proud Passion and Whatthehecklavec will get a second opportunity to demonstrate their early speed from Posts 5 and 7. The complete post position draw for next week’s Final is as follows:

Post 1 Busta Balls

Post 2 Southern Senorita

Post 3 Heartful Image

Post 4 What Idid For Love

Post 5 Proud Passion

Post 6 Fan Favourite

Post 7 Whatthehecklavec

Post 8 Elena

AE1 Honour Way

AE2 Draven

For complete results please go to:

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