CAMPBELLVILLE, ON — Just one week after their first Gold Final, the two-year-old pacing colts are back in action with a host of new faces joining the veterans at Mohawk Racetrack on Tuesday evening.

Among the colts who missed the season opener is Garth Gordon’s Armbro Domi, who debuts from Post 4 in the third Gold Elimination.

“He was a little shy around the gate so he’s had four schoolers and one qualifier to get him used to the gate,” says Gordon. “And the four-hole is just about the best spot you could ask for.”

Campbellville resident Mike Saftic, who shares ownership on Armbro Domi with James Walker of Port Perry, Daniel Sarafian of Stouffville and Gregory Saftich of Markham, has been instrumental in getting the Camluck son past his initial reservations about the starting gate and Gordon says the pair have progressed to the point where early speed is an option.

“The last couple of times he schooled him, Mike marched him right off the gate,” notes the Guelph resident. “So I imagine if Mike has his way, he’ll leave with him and go to the front or get up close to the action.”

The key to success in life is often a well rounded education and veteran reinsman Saftic also gave Armbro Domi a taste of sitting off the pace in his June 28 qualifier. Leaving from Post 3 the pair settled on the rail in fifth and watched the early action from mid-field before making their move to the front at the three-quarter pole. On top by a quarter length at the top of the stretch, the young pacer displayed a little grit by duelling to a three-quarter length victory in 1:58.1.

“He could be any kind of a colt,” says Gordon. “He’s a big colt, so he’s probably going to get a little better as he goes along.”

Another key to success on the racetrack is pedigree, and Armbro Domi is nicely equipped in that department. The youngster’s mother, $232,613 winner Shady Willow, is a half-sister to the mother of $1 million winner Electrical Art.

“He was a $60,000 yearling, and was kind of my pick of the sale in London,” recalls Gordon. “Mike Saftic wanted a Camluck, Shady Willow was a pretty good mare and his conformation was good.

“He trained good all winter long and doesn’t wear any equipment other than a pair of hopples.”

Most of the colts in the third elimination competed in the season opening Gold event at Kawartha Downs, but only Northern Tropics advanced to the Final where he was unable to finish due to broken equipment. Defending Gold Final champion Hombre will begin defence of his title from Post 5 in the first $30,506 elimination.

Post time at Mohawk Racetrack on Tuesday evening is 7:20 pm and the two-year-old pacing colts are slated to battle in Races 2, 4, 6, and 9. The top two finishers from each elimination, plus two third-place finishers, will return to the Campbellville oval on July 18 for their second crack at a $130,000 Ontario Sires Stakes purse.

For complete entries please go to:

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