by Ken Weingartner, Harness Racing Communications

Freehold, NJ — San Pail is at home at Mohawk Racetrack, where on Saturday (July 24) he will try to defend his title in the C$772,000 Maple Leaf Trot.

New Image Media photo

San Pail has won 29 races in his career with earnings of $1,121,576.

Since September 2008, San Pail has won 13 of 20 starts at Mohawk — including last year’s Maple Leaf Trot — while also registering three second-place efforts. He went off stride in his only two off-the-board finishes at Mohawk during that span; one three weeks ago with broken equipment.

On July 17, San Pail won the single Maple Leaf Trot elimination by 2-1/4 lengths over Lanson in 1:52.3. By virtue of the victory, the connections of San Pail got to select their starting spot for the final, and picked post No. 4. Lucky Jim, Enough Talk, and Armbro Chronicle accepted byes into the final.

San Pail, driven by Randy Waples and trained by Rod Hughes, has won seven of nine races this year and earned $159,115.

Enough Talk is coming off a win in the Titan Cup on July 3 at Meadowlands Racetrack. Lucky Jim was second in the Titan Cup, as well as in the Arthur J. Cutler Memorial. He won the Su Mac Lad Series.

Following is the field in post position order, with most recent drivers and trainers: 1. Enough Talk, Ron Pierce, Peter Kleinhans; 2. All Cantab, Trevor Ritchie, Blair Burgess; 3. Lucky Jim, Andy Miller, Julie Miller; 4. San Pail, Randy Waples, Rod Hughes; 5. Slave Dream, Sylvain Filion, Frank O’Reilly; 6. Reven Damour, Fredrik Larsson, Henrik Larsson; 7. Armbro Chronicle, Michael Saftic, Kent Baker; 8. Lanson, Mario Baillargeon, Don Swick; 9. Triumphant Caviar, Luc Ouellette, Chris Beaver; 10. Define The World, Paul MacDonell, John Bax.

Taking Flight: Autumn Escapade won the single elimination for Saturday’s C$351,000 Armbro Flight at Mohawk by 1-3/4 lengths over Southwind Wasabi in 1:52.4. Driven by Rick Zeron for trainer Jonas Czernyson, the mare has won three of nine races this year and earned $82,940. She will start from post No. 4 in the final.

Buck I St Pat received a bye into the final and will start from post one. She is looking for her first win in the Armbro Flight in four attempts. Defending champion Lavec Dream will start from post 10. The field also includes multiple-stakes-winners Southwind Wasabi, Windsong Soprano, Yursa Hanover, and Elusive Desire.

Here is the field in post position order: Buck I St Pat, Southwind Wasabi, Friendly Amigo, Autumn Escapade, Windsong Soprano, Yursa Hanover, Rose Run Keepsake, Elusive Desire, Diana Hall, and Lavec Dream.

Smelling Sweet: Dreamfair Eternal won the single elimination for Saturday’s C$376,000 Roses Are Red at Mohawk by a half-length over Tug River Princess in 1:51.2. The mare, the race’s defending champion, will start the final from post four. Dreamfair Eternal, driven by Randy Waples and trained by Patrick Fletcher, has won eight of 10 races this year, including the Artiscape at Tioga Downs, and earned $269,740.

To Helen Back, Shanghai Lil and APs Money Maker accepted byes into the final.

The field in post position order is: Shanghai Lil, Ginger And Fred, APs Money Maker, Dreamfair Eternal, Arts Diva, Tug River Princess, Miss Scarlett, Chancey Lady, Up Front Kellie Jo, and To Helen Back.