DUNDAS, ON — When Bill Budd ships into Flamboro Downs on Friday afternoon for the three-year-old pacing colt Gold Series Eliminations he will be hauling the kind of second string that most trainers only dream about.

With his top sophomore colts Sir Luck and Boulder Creek headed to the Meadowlands in New Jersey for the $1 million Meadowlands Pace, Budd will be counting on Famous Seelster and Village Blitz to carry the stable’s colours in the second Gold Series event of the season. And with a total bankroll of $378,900 between them, these two second stringers are more than up to the task.

First off the gate on Friday is Famous Seelster, who will start from Post 3 in the seventh race. A recent addition to Budd’s sophomore colt arsenal, Famous Seelster heads into the $42,874 Gold Elimination off a convincing 1:51.2 win in Hiawatha Horse Park’s Clearwater Cup on June 28.

“He’s a good colt, believe me,” says Budd. “If he stays together he’s an extremely fast horse.”

Budd purchased the colt on behalf of owners C and I Siegel Racing Stable Ltd., of Brooklyn, NY and John Fodera of Staten Island, NY, from the Standardbred Canada Spring Mixed Sale for $100,000. Since then the Rustler Hanover son has posted two victories and one fourth-place finish, banking $47,172.

Famous Seelster came to Budd with a history of physical problems so the Carlisle resident has created a training routine he hopes will minimize stress on the youngster and maximize his durability.

“He goes a mile every day, instead of training him hard once a week,” explains the veteran horseman. “That’s what I’ve done different with him so far.”

Mike Saftic will drive both Famous Seelster and Village Blitz, who goes after the lion’s share of the third elimination purse from Post 5. The Village Jiffy son missed the Clearwater Cup Final by one-quarter of a length and has enjoyed a mini-vacation from the races since the June 21 elimination.

The winner of the 2002 Battle of Waterloo at Elmira Raceway, Village Blitz has been at his best on half-mile tracks throughout his career and boasts a 1:55.3 personal best over Flamboro Downs this season.

“He’s maybe one notch below them good ones,” says Budd. “But he’ll get money there.”

C and I Siegel Racing Stable Ltd. also owns Village Blitz, who will face Clearwater Cup runner-up and May Gold Elimination winner HBFS Storm from Post 2.

HBFS Storm is one of three colts hailing from the powerful Bill Robinson stable who will make their way to Flamboro on Friday. In addition to HBFS Storm, Twin B Dynamic will start from Post 5 in the first race and Dreamfair Titan will face Famous Seelster from Post 6 in Race 7.

Flamboro Downs sounds the call to the post for the first three-year-old pacing colt Gold Elimination at 2:45 pm, with the other two eliminations going postward in Races 7 and 10. The top three finishers from each elimination will return to Flamboro on Friday, July 11 for the second $130,000 Gold Final on their 2003 schedule.