San Pail, the reigning Horse of the Year in both Canada and the U.S., is one hoofstep closer to returning to the races after qualifying Friday morning at Mohawk Racetrack.

The eight-year-old son of San Pellegrino, who was sidelined due to inflammation in his right-hind ankle, received a clean bill of health on August 9.

In San Pail’s first charted line since a qualifying effort on June 22, the Rod Hughes trainee went gate-to-wire with regular reinsman Randy Waples in the sulky. The brown gelding used a :27.4 final frame to open up by 12 lengths and stop the teletimer in 1:57.3.

“We went right where we kind of planned on going, :57 and a bit, and if he comes out of this okay we’ll just come back and hopefully qualify him again next Friday,” said Hughes. “But he’ll have to come out of this the way we want him to and make sure we’re okay.”

The 51-time career winner, who has $3,076,635 in lifetime earnings, is being pointed to the Allerage, Credit Winner, Breeders Crown and American National.

San Pail is owned by Hughes Stable Inc. and breeder Glenn Van Camp.

To view Friday's qualifying results, click on the following link: Friday Results (Qualifiers) - Mohawk Racetrack.

(WEG)