Whatta Hotty, Countess Stormont take Trillium splits

Countess Stormont delivered an upset while Whatta Hotty prevailed as the heavy favorite in Sunday night's pair of $35,273(C) Trillium Series divisions for 3-year-old filly trotters at Woodbine Racetrack.

In the opening division, Countess Stormont and driver Jonathan Drury left hard to grab early control of the race and took the field past the first quarter in :27. It wasn't long before race favorite Warrawee June came on the attack and the pacesetter immediately yielded just before the opening half in :57.2.

As the field raced to three-quarters, Sugar Coated Lindy came up to challenge Warrawee June who held that one at bay through three panels in 1:27.3. In the stretch, Sugar Coated Lindy began to back away, giving Drury a clear shot with his filly who responded with a strong late surge.

Warrawee June was able to hold second with Duchessofnorthyork rallying to pick up third. The winner returned $30.60 for the victory.

It was the fifth win of the season for the daughter of Kadabra-Lady Orbitex and boosted her lifetime bankroll to more than $128,000 for trainer Norm Jones and the Stormont Meadows of Long Sault, Ont.

Whatta Hotty dominated her rivals with a strong first-over win in the second split for driver Garret Whelan in 1:56.4. The daughter of Yankee Paco-Our Kuli Girl took command turning for home and easily held off Good Common Cents with the pacesetter, Torch, holding on for the show spot.

Whatta Hotty returned a popular $3.30 to win.

The victory equaled Whatta Hotty's lifetime-best clocking was her fifth win of the season in 15 starts for trainer Jim Whelan who co-owns along with Terry, Mary and Clarence Devos of Langton, Ont. The lion's share of the purse vaulted her past $275,000 in earnings this season.

Whatta Hotty is the top point-getter this year in her division of the Ontario Sire Stakes and will be one of the favorites heading into the $300,000 OSS Super Final on Saturday, Nov. 15, at Woodbine. (WEG)

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