O’Brien Award winner San Pail, who has been away since defending his title in the Maple Leaf Trot on July 24, overcame a lengthy gap in his schedule and a first over trip to take Tuesday’s $42,000 Open Trot
at Mohawk Racetrack.
San Pail and driver Randy Waples got away fourth from their pole position starting spot, and that allowed All Cantab (Jody Jamieson) to march to the top and lay down an opening panel of :27.1. Triumphant Caviar (Luc Ouellette) got away third, but was out and rolling as soon as the field hit the backstretch. He eventually rolled to the top and hit the mid-way marker in :56.1 before feeling final turn pressure from San Pail, who popped off the rail and went on the attack.
Triumphant Caviar was still in command at the three-quarter pole, but San Pail was at his wheel and advancing. San Pail wrestled away the lead from Triumphant Caviar shortly after the field turned into the lane, and his :27.4 final quarter speed was enough to earn him a two-length win in 1:53.1. All Cantab re-rallied to finish second, while Triumphant Caviar and Define The World (Paul MacDonell) finished in a dead-heat for third.
Trainer Rod Hughes co-owns the six-year-old son of San Pellegrino-Village Beauty with the gelding’s breeder, Glenn Van Camp of Port Perry, ON. The victory improves the trotter’s 2010 record to 9-1-0 in 11 trips postward, and it helped bump his overall bankroll to $1,627,465.
To view Tuesday’s results, click here.