Trotting titan San Pail, who last raced April 23 at Woodbine, is set to qualify this Friday at Mohawk Racetrack, according to trainer Rod Hughes.

A winner of $3,076,635, San Pail will look for his fourth straight Maple Leaf Trot title on July 21 at the Campbellville, Ont. oval.

“He’s right on schedule,” Hughes said from his home in Dunsford, Ont. “We’ll qualify him on Friday and maybe again the following week. We usually let Randy (driver Randy Waples) decide that.”

A 51-time winner from 111 career starts, San Pail, unusually, has posted back-to-back second-place efforts in his last two starts.

“This year does appear to be deeper in talent than in the past,” Hughes said. “Arch Madness raced terrific in Sweden, Daylon Magician went a terrific mile at Mohawk the other night and there are even more that I could name. We’ll have our work cut out for us this year. All we can worry about is ‘Pail’ and make sure he’s fit and ready to go.”

Owned by Hughes Stable and breeder Glenn Van Camp, San Pail, harness racing's Horse of the Year on both sides of the border in 2011, has an enviable racing resume, chock full of accolades and awards, all of which has garnered him celebrity status.

The eight-year-old son of San Pellegrino is closing in on another 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 $3,577,171.

San Pail has raced just four-times this season with a 2-2-0 record and $98,750 in earnings.

(WEG)