San Pail, Horse of the Year on both sides of the border in 2011, is scheduled to record his first charted line of the 2012 racing season Thursday, March 8 during Mohawk Racetrack's weekly qualifying session

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Trainer and co-owner Rod Hughes confirmed that the winner of $2,977,885 that has three Maple Leaf Trot victories, will qualify twice to prepare for his first stakes engagement of the season, the opening leg of the Glorys Comet Trotting Series, set for Saturday, March 24 at Woodbine Racetrack.

“That’s the plan,” Hughes said. “We will qualify this week and next, then go into the Glorys Comet. This week we won’t go much, maybe between (1:) 58 and 2:00. It doesn’t really matter this week, as long as he finishes strong. (Driver) Randy (Waples) can dictate what he feels ‘Pail’ wants to go.”

After earning an impressive $1,266,420 last season with a record of 14-2-0 from 16 appearances, Hughes elected to keep San Pail's stakes appearances the same as last year.

“We're not changing a thing. He’s staked up pretty good like last year,” Hughes said. “He’ll have the Breeders Crown, Maple Leaf Trot, Nat Ray, Credit Winner, a trip to Lexington, as well as a few others. We also kept him eligible to the American National. We didn’t go there last year, but we might consider it this year.”

San Pail is closing in on a significant milestone, as he looks to surpass rival, Arch Madness, to become the richest Canadian-sired trotter of all time. Arch Madness currently holds the mark with earnings of $3,267,288.

An eight-year-old son of San Pellegrino, San Pail has 49 career victories for co-owner and breeder Glenn Van Camp.

(WEG)