CAMPBELLVILLE, ON — After struggling through his first five starts with outside post positions and difficult trips, three-year-old pacing colt Shipps Xpectancy finally found his way to the winner’s circle on Sunday evening, claiming a Gold Elimination victory at Mohawk Racetrack.

Starting from Post 6 Shipps Xpectancy used Strand Hanover as a wind break and marched steadily up the outside as reigning Gold Final champion OK Boromir did most of the work on the front end. Turning for home Shipps Xpectancy was just one and a half lengths off the pace, and a sharp :26.3 final quarter launched the Mach Three son down the stretch to a one length victory in 1:51.4.

Fan favourite OK Boromir settled for second, with Rescue Plan closing sharply to earn the third-place finisher’s share of the $40,000 Gold Elimination purse.

Regular reinsman Jack Moiseyev engineered the victory for trainer John Kopas of Milton and owner Harold G. Shipp Stable of Mississauga. Through five starts this season Moiseyev and Shipps Xpectancy have had dismal luck in the post position draw, landing the outside Post 10 for the elimination and final of the Canadian Breeders Championship, and Post 8 in the July 4 Gold Elimination at Georgian Downs. As a result Shipps Xpectancy had only accumulated one fourth and two fifths through the five starts leading into Sunday’s outing.

Fortunately, the gelding’s luck seems to have changed, as he and Moiseyev will line up from Post 5 in next weekend’s $130,000 Gold Final.

Primary Purpose and Cambridge resident Mark MacDonald captured the first $40,000 Gold Elimination, cruising along on the front end through fractions of :27.2, :57.2 and 1:23.3 before reaching the wire one and a half lengths on top in 1:51.2. Fast Pay, winner of the season opening Gold Final, finished second and Ideal Race was six and one-quarter lengths back in third. Fourth-place finisher Shady Cam also advanced to next Sunday’s Gold Final.

Breeder Rod Therres of Surrey, BC and Charles MacFarlane of Victoria, BC share ownership of Cammibest colt Primary Purpose, who boasts a record of five wins, four seconds and one third through 13 starts this season. Cambridge resident Casie Coleman trains the talented young pacer, who has now captured three straight Gold Eliminations. The colt will take aim at the main prize from Post 8 in the Aug. 9 Gold Final.

The other Gold Elimination went to Canadian Breeders Champion Lyons Horace, who circled the Mohawk Racetrack oval in a comparatively sedate 1:53.2. The Astreos son and driver Randy Waples of Milton rang up fractions of :26.4, :57.1 and 1:25.4, then held off a charging Stonebridge Terror to secure the three-quarter length victory. Barn Art rounded out the top three.

Shawn Robinson trains Lyons Horace for Joseph Lyons Mound of Burford. Unraced as a two-year-old, the Astreos son has recorded seven victories, one second and one third through 10 starts this season.

Lyons Horace will start from Post 9 in the Aug. 9 Gold Final, with the rest of the field ranging out along the Mohawk Racetrack starting gate as follows:

Post 1 Rescue Plan

Post 2 OK Boromir

Post 3 Stonebridge Terror

Post 4 Ideal Race

Post 5 Shipps Xpectancy

Post 6 Barn Art

Post 7 Fast Pay

Post 8 Primary Purpose

Post 9 Lyons Horace

Post 10 Shady Cam

For complete results please go to: http://www.standardbredcanada.ca/racing/results/data/r0802mohsn.dat.