by Greg Gangle, WEG Communications

Toronto, ON — San Pail, Horse of the Year on both sides of the border in 2011, captured his qualifying session Thursday morning (March 15) at Mohawk Racetrack.

The winner of $2,888,106, which includes three Maple Leaf Trot victories, cleared to the front past the half in :58.1 and led his rivals past three-quarters in 1:27.3, en route to stopping the timer in 1:55.3 with a :28 final quarter.

“Everything went very smoothly this morning,” trainer and co-owner Rod Hughes said. “Randy (Waples) and I thought right around (1):55 or (1):56 should be reasonable this morning and he did that very comfortably. Randy said he was strong at the end of the mile and that he’s ready to go.”

After earning $1,289,000 last season with a record of 14-2-0 from 16 appearances, San Pail’s first stakes engagement of the season will be in the opening leg of the Glorys Comet Series, set for Saturday (March 24) at Woodbine.

The 8-year-old son of San Pellegrino has 49 career victories for co-owner and breeder Glenn Van Camp.