LONDON, ON — The long awaited start to the three-year-old pacing colt season arrives at Western Fair Raceway on Friday night with three Gold Eliminations for the marquee division of the Ontario Sires Stakes program.

After an unsatisfying start to his sophomore campaign, Twin B Survivor will be looking to rebound with a top finish in the first $42,393 elimination. The number three colt last season, Twin B Survivor came up with a severe viral infection after his May 17 Clearwater Cup elimination at Hiawatha Horse Park and trainer Jack Darling has spent the last month trying to return the good looking youngster to health.

“He didn’t race up to par so I pulled a blood on him right after, and it showed he had a severe infection,” recalls Darling, who shares ownership on the colt with Daniel Smith of London and Brad Gray of Dundas. “You never know until they race, but he’s acting fine now and seems to be feeling fine.”

Darling tested Twin B Survivor’s fitness with a qualifier at Mohawk Racetrack last Monday, June 11 and the Apaches Fame son rolled out a 1:55.3 effort, leading through all stations until he was caught in the stretch by a length. The Cambridge resident intends to train the colt on Tuesday, and then hope for the best come Friday night.

“He drew a bad post, that doesn’t help,” notes the horseman, who will send his charge out wearing the Post 6 saddle pad. “And I think we caught the tough one.”

Among the colts that Twin B Survivor and regular reinsman Randy Waples will face in Race 2 are Flamboro Breeders winner Warrawee Ideal from Post 3 and Clearwater Cup winner Deuces And Jacks from Post 4.

Although Twin B Survivor’s illness prevented Darling from giving the colt a pre-season test run over a half-mile track, the veteran horseman says the turns in London should not be a problem. At two the leggy pacer earned $45,492 of his $196,875 over the Grand River Raceway and Flamboro Downs half-mile ovals.

“He gets around the turns good,” says Darling. “I don’t like the half-mile racing for him, it’s pretty constrictive, but he gets around the turns good.”

Twin B Survivor and Waples will be looking for a top two finish in the Gold Series season opener. With three eliminations, only the top two finishers from each are guaranteed a spot in the June 29 Gold Final. The three third-place finishers will have to rely on luck to land one of two remaining spots in the $130,000 contest.

The other two eliminations are slated as Races 5 and 8 on the 7:35 pm program, and feature a pair of Bob McIntosh trainees; Ontario Spring Series winner Cam Cool from Post 1 in Race 5 and Clearwater Cup runner-up Daddy Mac from Post 3 in Race 8.

For complete entries please go to:

http://www.standardbredcanada.ca/entries/data/elonfr.html