San Pail, who was sidelined due to injury earlier this season, will be returning to the racetrack in a couple of weeks, according to trainer Rod Hughes.

The three-time defending Maple Leaf Trot winner was unable to defend his title this year.

“He was sidelined because of inflammation in his right-hind ankle, which came close to his suspensory,” Hughes said. “We had to take the necessary steps to get him back to 100 per cent and that meant missing the ‘Trot.’

“I took him to [Dr. Terry] Ruch’s yesterday [Thursday] and he got a clean bill of health,” he continued. “He’s never missed a day of jogging, but we need to get some fast miles into him, so we’ll likely ship him into Mohawk a few times then qualify him. I also plan to qualify him twice and then go from there.”

Hughes also confirmed that San Pail’s schedule remains intact.

“Our plan has remained the same,” he said. “He’ll ship to Lexington for the Allerage, Credit Winner, Breeders Crown and the American National. We didn’t go to the American National last year after the Breeders Crown, which we paid him up to, but we’re considering going this year.”

Canada’s reigning Horse of the Year has raced just four times this season with a 2-2-0 record and $98,750 in seasonal earnings.

The eight-year-old son of San Pellegrino has won 51 times and earned $3,076,635 in his career for Hughes Stable Inc. and Glenn Van Camp. Randy Waples has been the gelding’s primary driver.

(WEG)