San Pail made an uncharacteristic break and finished up the track in the February 9 edition of the $50,000
Open Trot at Woodbine Racetrack, but he rebounded for a sharp score in Monday’s follow-up assignment.
According to co-owner/trainer Rodney Hughes, the five-year-old son of San Pellegrino was hampered by some nagging feet issues the night he made the break. Hughes opted to bypass the entry box last week, and the extra week off seemed to do the trick for the gelding.
Scorpion Moon rolled the field through fractions of :27.2, :56.4 and 1:25.2 before being pulled on by San Pail, who sat a perfect, pocket trip for the first six furlongs in the seven-horse affair.
Randy Waples showed San Pail racetrack coming off the final turn, and the trotter replied with a :28.3 closing quarter en route to the 1:54.2 decision. Norway No Day finished third, but was placed second, and race favourite Armbro Chronicle finished fourth, but was later placed up to third.
A stretch-drifting Scorpion Moon finished second, but was placed fourth for causing interference in the stretch to Norway No Day, who in turn was forced out and hooked wheels with Armbro Chronicle.
The victory was the third of the season in six tries for San Pail, who has stashed away 13 lifetime wins for Hughes and co-owner/breeder Glenn Van Camp of Port Perry, ON. The $25,000 payday bumped his yearly bankroll to $88,000 and his lifetime cash stash to $412,715.
Also noteworthy from Monday’s Open Trot was the fact that Please Poppy sustained a serious injury.
The five-year-old son of Self Possessed, who made a break shortly after the half-mile marker, pulled up lame for driver Mark MacDonald and trainer Per Henriksen.
ORC veterinarian Dr. Jack McCall told Trot Insider he believed the gelding suffered a broken coffin bone in his right front leg. McCall noted the extent of the injury couldn’t be determined until x-rays were taken.
To view Monday’s results, click here.