by Greg Gangle, WEG media
Toronto, ON — San Pail, a hot favorite for Horse of the Year honors in 2011, has earned himself a well-deserved rest after a head-turning campaign.
The son of San Pelligrino-Village Beauty earned $1,289,000 in 2011 with a 14-2-0 record from 16 starts. Overall, San Pail has banked $2,888,106 lifetime with 49 trips to the winner’s circle.
USTA/Mark Hall photo
San Pail will make his 2012 debut in the Glorys Comet on the WEG circuit.
“He still jogs every day or every other day,” Hughes said. “I don’t want to let him right down, it’s what I have done with him in the past and it has worked. His first test next season will be the Glorys Comet at Woodbine.”
In the past, the Glorys Comet was scheduled for January, but Woodbine Entertainment Group recently announced a date change to March for the stakes event eliminations, where it will be paired with the Spring Pacing Championship. Both C$125,000 finals are scheduled for April 7.
San Pail captured the 2010 edition, but Hughes wasn’t going to prepare his gelding for the race until he found out about the change.
“That played a big role,” he said. “I raced him in January last year, but I wouldn’t do it this year. He’s got a long season ahead of him, so having him ready at the end of March or early April will better suit his season.”
When reflecting on San Pail’s 2011 campaign which included victories in the Breeders Crown, Maple Leaf Trot, Allerage Trot, Credit Winner, Nat Ray and, of course, the Glorys Comet, Hughes was, not surprisingly, amazed at his star’s exploits.
“It was overwhelming, really, to be honest,” he said. “As a trainer, you just don’t dream of those types of seasons, but he’s just a special horse. He has drawn such an incredible fan base and it’s just unbelievable to see the passion the people have for him. The winner’s circle is getting bigger and bigger all the time. It’s great to see.”
While he rallied to win the Breeders Crown Open Trot in October, Hughes acknowledges San Pail wasn’t on top of his game compared to earlier in the year.
“He was just a tick or two behind what he usually is,” he said. “He wasn’t as sharp as he was in the Maple Leaf Trot, but that’s understandable. The Breeders Crown was later in the year and that takes a toll on any horse. It’s a long season, plus, travelling with him to Lexington surely took something out of him.”
Rod, his wife Emily, son Wyatt, and father Jerry, will be looking forward to the O’Brien Awards and Dan Patch Awards.
After runner-up status in last year’s Horse of the Year balloting, San Pail is hardly a longshot to be crowned the 2011 champion in Canada at the end of January. Being honored in the United States (the Dan Patch Awards are in February) would be equally pleasing.
“He should win there, too,” he offered. “What else did he need to do to win? We travelled with him there more than before and he never lost on their turf. I don’t know who else would beat him.”
For now, San Pail will take a breather, while his connections envision their superstar scooping up some serious hardware in the coming months.