Day after day Tie Domi became more frustrated at hearing Mats Sundin brag about his prized standardbred.

So the Maple Leafs pugilist decided to do something about it.

"A couple of years ago, I got sick of listening to Mats talk about his horse," Domi said. "So I asked (a friend involved in harness racing) to get me a horse who could beat Mats."

Not even Domi could have predicted how well his request would play out.

Ken Warkentin, the standardbred Domi now co-owns, is the early season favourite for the Hambletonian, North America's most prestigious race for trotters, that goes later this summer. The three-year-old is slated to make his 2005 debut tomorrow in a race at the Meadowlands.

"The only problem with (the Hambletonian) is that it takes place in New Jersey," Domi said, breaking into a wry grin. "I'm not very well liked there."

Given his recent endeavour into harness racing, Domi was a suitable celebrity to help make the draw for post positions for the $1.5-million North America Cup final Saturday night at Woodbine.

By the time Domi had completed his duties at Woodbine yesterday, the three front-runners for the North America Cup found themselves starting alongside each other.

Rocknroll Hanover, the 7-5 favourite in the morning line, will begin the race from the No. 5 spot. Stonebridge Regal, who will be 5-2 when waging opens Saturday morning, goes off from the No. 4 position while Runover Feeling, who is at 6-1, starts from the No. 3 hole.

"You'll need to be close," said driver Luc Ouellete, who will be in the sulky behind Runover Feeling. "It seems you need to be up front or near the front here."

American Ideal, trained by Casie Coleman, goes off from the No. 10 spot. Coleman is the first female trainer to have a horse in the North America Cup final.