After having not trotting a charted line in a month, 2009 O'Brien Award winner San Pail was out for a tune up during Mohawk Racetrack's Tuesday morning qualifying
session.
In rein to his regular pilot, Randy Waples, the six-year-old son of San Pellegrino started from Post 8 in Race 4, a nine-horse affair.
After having opted for a mid-pack start, Waples had the Rod Hughes pupil positioned fifth before to the :28.1 opening quarter flashed to life.
Waples had the career winner of $1,648,465 on the move in the second panel, as San Pail went first-up in the frame and was fourth by five lengths as the opening half-mile timer was clicked off in :58.2.
Waples and the two-time Maple Leaf Trot winner had grabbed the lead by the time the 1:28.2 three-quarters pole lit up. It was all business the rest of the way for the duo, as San Pail and Waples would go on to record the win by more than seven lengths in 1:56.1.
Hughes told Trot Insider earlier this week that the reason behind not racing San Pail is simple: the Open Trot is not filling. San Pail has been entered to race each week since his last start.
A total of five qualifying races went to post during the session. To view the results, click here.
I don't know what happens to
I don't know what happens to this horse when he travels but I've had experience with horses that don't transport well. One of my warmblood mares turned herself upside down with legs caught in dangerous positions. A hacksaw and hammer set her free. All of this in an open parking lot of a gas station on a highway.
We can't give our racehorses tranquilizers to transport them to racetracks. Try riding in a typical trailer and see just how rough and noisy it is. Nervous travellers panic and cause themselves all sorts of trouble such as colic, dehydration, ulcers, body injury, etc. They come off the trailer a complete wreck and not in any shape to run a race. Some are equally as uptight when off their own property and never settle in the ship in barns. The health and welfare of the horse should be a priority. Some never get used to it.
I fully understand that the betting public wants to see this horse race, as do I, but not if it compromises his well-being. As it is, it likely takes a good week to get this type of horse settled and feeling good again after a race that is close to home. I'm sure the owners and trainer would love to race him at any racetrack but they obviously have concerns for him and prefer to not push him beyond his breaking point.
No kidding? What a waste of
No kidding? What a waste of a horse at his peak!I know he's supposed to be a bad shipper, but he should really take on the competition worthy of him, and there just isn't enough competition at his level at WEG. He should be scheduled to go to more of the big dances next year, against the likes of Lucky Jim and Enough Talk, or he will never reach his full potential.
He's only raced outside of Ontario once in his career.We fans deserve the best representatives to take on the world.In my humble opinion, there are too many trainers "whimping" out with their horses and cheating them of the opportunity at immortality. Take a chance!
Zenyatta could have retired undefeated, but she'll be ready to take on the world this Saturday, and will test herself against the very best that are worthy of her,male or female, when she could have simply trounced the mares all year. This kind of handling takes not only confidence in your horse, but testicular fortitude by the connections.