Open class trotters marched into battle at Woodbine Racetrack on Monday evening, and Canada’s ultimate trotting warrior found his way to victory lane yet again

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San Pail, who was voted Canada’s Older Trotting Horse of the Year at the 2009 O’Brien Awards, front-stepped to a 1:53.4 victory for the tandem of driver Randy Waples and co-owner/trainer Rod Hughes.

The six-year-old son of San Pellegrino-Village Beauty, who is co-owned by his breeder, Glenn Van Camp of Port Perry, ON, was parked to the quarter pole in a :27-second clip by Define The World (Paul MacDonell) before being released to the engine. Once San Pail cleared he supplied the field with sensible middle splits of :56 and 1:26.2 before stepping on the gas pedal. A :27.2 final frame was unleashed by leader, who turned aside a determined challenge by Define The World, who came up a neck short. Merited Victory (Rick Zeron) completed the Triactor ticket in the five-horse affair.

“He’s a dream come true,” said driver Randy Waples. “He’s been off a month, maybe a month and a half and he just goes out there and does his job. He’s a real gentleman.”

The triumph was the eleventh of the season for San Pail, who went 12-for-24 last year. The 33-time winner upped his earnings to $1,669,465 in the process.

To view Monday’s results, click here.