In an article posted today on mykawartha.com, Rod Hughes, trainer of the Maple Leaf Trot winning San Pail, has gone on record as saying that the excitement in the stretch drive "darn near killed me."

The report also states that San Pail has been invited to the prestigious Nat Ray free for all trot at the Meadowlands for aged horses. The Nat Ray will be contested August 8, the same day as the $1.5 million Hambletonian for three-year-old trotters.

When Mary Riley -- author of the mykawartha.com article -- asked Hughes about the invitation to the Nat Ray, the horsemen responded "it's all still a blur" while he was on his way to check into the status of the gelding's passport.

"He'd been to several trainers; nobody wanted him," Rod's mother, Susan Hughes, was quoted as saying in regard to San Pail, who is still the talk of the track after his gritty victory.

The gelding's big win gave driver Randy Waples his first-ever victory in the Maple Leaf Trot.

Click here to the read the mykawartha.com article in its entirety.

(With files from mykawartha.com)

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