After picking up the drive on Older Pacing Mare of the Year finalist Dreamfair Eternal and pledging his loyalty to the connections of Older Trotter of the Year contender San Pail, Randy Waples put together a standout year in the sulky that could possibly lead to him winning his very own O’Brien Award on Saturday night
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In a Guelph Mercry article, written by Dave Briggs, Waples discusses how he secured the drives on Dreamfair Eternal and San Pail, both O'Brien Award winners in 2009.
“[Owner John] Lamers actually tried to get me on Dreamfair Eternal [in 2009],” said Waples, who was named Driver of the Year in 1998 and 2001, “but I had already committed to trainer Mark Steacy to drive Hana Hanover. I told John, ‘I can’t. I’ve already told this guy that this was the way it’s going to be.’”
After Hana Hanover suffered a season-ending injury, Waples picked up the drive on Dreamfair Eternal. Waples guided the homebred daughter of Camluck-J Cs Nathalie, trained by Pat Fletcher, to victory in the Masters Series, Milton Stakes, Breeders Crown and numerous Open events last season.
“The whole San Pail thing was just fluke luck. How he came up with me is beyond me, because I had never spoken to Rod,” Waples said, who drove the San Pellegrino-Village Beauty gelding as he defended his title in the Maple Leaf Trot and won numerous Opens in 2010.
“I had him qualify San Pail,” said trainer Rod Hughes, who co-owns with breeder Glenn Van Camp of Port Perry, Ont. “I told him right then, ‘I will not put you down to drive this horse if you’re going to jump around from horse to horse. Simple.’ He said, ‘Rod, I’m with you.’ I said, ‘That’s all I need to know.’ I stuck with him.”
To read the Guelph Mercury article in its entirety, click here.
(With files from Guelph Mercury)