After making his first on-track appearance in a year last week, 2011's Horse of the Year San Pail returned for his second qualifying appearance on Wednesday at Mohawk Racetrack.
Driver Randy Waples tucked the nine-year-old son of San Pellegrino loosely into the pocket behind Duke Of Donegal and waited through fractions of :29, 57.4, and 1:27.2 before popping out in the stretch to hit the wire in 1:57.3, three-quarters of a length in front of the pacesetter.
Co-owner and trainer Rod Hughes told Trot Insider that the plan is to qualify San Pail twice more. The multiple-award winning trotter has 51 wins and more than $3 million in lifetime purses.
Two races later, another O'Brien Award winner was in to qualify under new ownership. Warrawee Needy, who was scratched from his Canadian Pacing Derby elimination, was a 1:53.3 winner for regular driver Jody Jamieson.
The four-year-old world record holding son of E Dees Cam is now owned by trainer Carl Jamieson and New York-based trainer Mark Ford.
For full charts from Wednesday's qualifying session, click the following link: Wednesday Qualifiers - Mohawk Racetrack.