by Ken Weingartner, Harness Racing Communications

Ken Weingartner

Freehold, NJ — It is said that sometimes the best moves are the ones you do not make. In harness racing, that includes the sales one does not make. Like in the case of standout older trotter San Pail. Breeder Glenn Van Camp likely would have sold the horse at auction as a yearling in 2005 except San Pail was kicked by another horse and was thought to be a less-than-stellar prospect.

“He had quite a bump on his hock and I couldn’t put him in the yearling sale,” said Van Camp, who owns San Pail with trainer Rod Hughes. “The rest of his family, some of them went through the sales. Donna Wallbanger (San Pail’s older half-sister) I bought back (for $22,000 in 2002) and she earned a quarter-of-a-million dollars, so you never know.

“(San Pail) is one that comes along once in a lifetime,” he added. “He’s quite a natural. Every time I watch him, I’m amazed.”

New Image Media photo

San Pail has won 29 of his last 38 trips behind the gate.

A 7-year-old son of San Pellegrino, out of the mare Village Beauty, San Pail has won 42 of 100 career races and earned $1.82 million. He is a two-time O’Brien Award winner as Canada’s best older male trotter and this weekend is bidding to become just the second horse to win three consecutive editions of the Maple Leaf Trot. Grandpa Jim accomplished the feat from 1969 to 1971.

Saturday’s C$730,000 Maple Leaf Trot at Mohawk Racetrack features San Pail, Arch Madness, Lucky Jim, Enough Talk, Il Villaggio, Hot Shot Blue Chip, Define The World, Four Starz Speed, Triumphant Caviar, and Premiere Steed. Arch Madness, the No. 2-ranked horse in the weekly Top 10 poll, won the 2008 Maple Leaf Trot.

San Pail, who finished second to Lucky Jim in last week’s prep, starts from post No. 9. It was only the second loss of the year, in nine starts, for San Pail. He will be driven Saturday by regular pilot Randy Waples.

“I wasn’t disappointed,” said Van Camp, who lives in Port Perry, Ontario. “He should be tightened up. The thing about him is you don’t have to force him to do anything. When he sees someone coming, he wants to go himself. That’s nice to have. He’s been one of those wonders. He didn’t draw the best (for the final) but he’s very versatile. He’ll just have to work it out the best he can.”

San Pail’s star has risen over the past three years. Since May 2009, he has won 29 of 38 races and finished worse than second only four times.

“He’s meant everything (to me),” Hughes said. “He’s paid for my farm and completely changed my life. I just know that horses like him don’t come around every day or even at all. People look for this type of horse their entire life and don’t get it. I’ve lucked into him and I don’t take it for granted.”

Primarily known as an Ontario-circuit horse, Hughes is contemplating bringing his pupil to the States.

“There is some consideration to take him south of the border,” Hughes said. “(The Meadowlands) has him slated to race in the Nat Ray, so if he comes out of the Maple Leaf Trot well, we will go there. Also, we will likely go to Lexington, the Credit Winner at Vernon Downs and American-National.”

When the field lines up Saturday, Hughes has a number of opponents to worry about.

“Arch Madness scares me the most,” he said. “He’s a world champion and has been racing unbelievable; same thing with Lucky Jim and Enough Talk, they’re all deadly.

“If (San Pail) wins from post nine in this year’s ‘Trot’ that will be just as memorable. I know that’s a huge hurdle to win that kind of race from post nine, but we just have to hope for some good racing luck and a good trip.”

Following is the Maple Leaf Trot field in post position order with listed drivers and trainers: 1. Il Villaggio, Jody Jamieson, Blair Burgess; 2. Hot Shot Blue Chip, David Miller, Jonas Czernyson; 3. Enough Talk, Mark MacDonald, Nat Varty; 4. Define The World, Paul MacDonell, John Bax; 5. Arch Madness, Brian Sears, Trond Smedshammer; 6. Four Starz Speed, Scott Zeron, Ron Burke; 7. Triumphant Caviar, Luc Ouellette, Chris Beaver; 8. Premiere Steed, Sylvain Filion, Fabrice Souloy; 9. San Pail, Randy Waples, Rod Hughes; 10. Lucky Jim, Andy Miller, Erv Miller.