San Pail, driven by Randy Waples, took no prisoners
during a stakes-filled Saturday night at Mohawk Racetrack, wiring a
star-studded cast in the $772,000 Maple Leaf Trot.
Not only did
San
Pail become the first horse since the incomparable Mr Muscleman in
2004-05 to win back-to-back editions of the Maple Leaf Trot, but he also set
a stakes record of 1:51.3, eclipsing Arch Madness’s mark of 1:52 in 2008.
At the finish of one of North America’s premier trotting classics, San
Pail proved the best by three lengths over Slave Dream (Sylvain Filion),
with Reven Damour (Fredrik Larsson) third. However, Slave Dream was
disqualified for a lapped on the break at the wire and placed third, with
Reven Damour elevated to second.
The six year-old gelded son of San Pellegrino also established the
fastest half-mile mark in Mohawk history, a blazing :54.2, after blasting
from the four-hole, out-duelling two others for the lead while getting the
opening quarter in :26.2.
Despite comfortably winning his elimination last week, San Pail went
postward the 3-1 third choice, behind 6-5 favourite Lucky Jim and 2-1 Enough
Talk. Lucky Jim made a mild bid around the far turn before finishing fourth,
while Enough Talk, tucked in third along the rail for most of the trip, made
a break turning for home and wound up 10th and last.
"It always feels good to win this race," said Waples. "It’s so tough to
get a horse good enough to compete in this race. And then it’s so tough to
get a good post position, do good in the elimination, then race well in the
final. I can’t say enough about [trainer] Rod Hughes. He just had the horse
unbelievably good. It’s great.
"I wanted to control my own destiny. I know some people don’t think he’s
quite as good as some of the other horses. But I just wanted to take my shot
and go from there, because I do believe he is one of the best ones. He’s
always a better horse when he gets to the front because he relaxes. It just
couldn’t have worked out better."
Added trainer and co-owner Rodney Hughes of Dunsford, ON, "I’m so happy
with that horse tonight. He’s just awesome. He’s what you dream of. To do
this twice is just unbelievable. I knew we had lots of support here tonight.
I was just hoping we had the horse to back it up.
"I thought he’d be better [than last week]. He put in a really nice week
for us at home. We worked a little harder on him and tried to have him that
much better and he was. This is amazing."
San Pail picked up a pot of $386,000 for his 30th lifetime win, pushing
his career bankroll to over $1.6 million for Hughes and partner Glenn Van
Camp of Port Perry, ON.
San Pail paid $8, $4.50 and $4, combining with Reven Damour ($6.20,
$4.10) for a $56.60 (4-6) exactor. A 4-6-5 (Slave Dream, $9.70 to show)
triactor was worth $863.90, while a $1 Superfecta [4-6-5-3 (Lucky Jim)]
returned $1,582.50.
