After a standout year and a well-deserved vacation, Maple Leaf Trot winner San Pail is back in training mode to prepare for his next engagement at the start of the new year
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Trainer and co-owner Rod Hughes told Trot Insider that the five-year-old son of San Pellegrino-Village Beauty, who made his last start on October 15 in an Open Trot at Woodbine Racetrack, enjoyed some time off after compiling a record of 11-4-1 in 23 starts and adding $705,250 to his bankroll to earn millionaire status. With his top notch efforts on track this year an O'Brien Award nomination is highly probable as San Pail was first among all aged trotters eligible for O'Brien Award consideration in seasonal wins and earnings.
“I wanted to give him a break before the ground froze up,” said Hughes, who shares ownership with breeder Glenn Van Camp of Port Perry, Ont. “He likes to be turned out lots and I didn’t want to have him out on the frozen ground. He only had a short time off – about two and a half to three weeks – but has been kept up in training. We just backed off a little but on the work during the week, that’s all.”
Hughes said that San Pail, who is being pointed to the Glorys Comet Trotting Series at Woodbine, will qualify next week or the week after depending on the weather conditions.
“Hopefully the weather cooperates and we can get him back qualified and racing, and have some luck this winter. He’s in excellent shape and pretty much ready to go.”
The $50,000 first leg of the Glorys Comet Series is set for Sunday, January 3, 2010 with the second leg on Sunday, January 10. The $75,000 (added) final is scheduled for the following Sunday, January 17.