by John Siscos, WEG communications

Toronto, ON — The immensely popular San Pail, with Randy Waples, staked his claim as Horse of the Year in Canada, the United States and the rest of the world with a neck victory in 1:51.4 over Rapide Lebel in the $600,000 Breeders Crown Open Trot on Saturday (Oct. 29) at Woodbine Racetrack.

USTA/Mark Hall photo

San Pail staked his claim to Horse of the Year with a 1:51.4 victory in the Breeders Crown Open Trot.

Sent postward the 3-5 choice, San Pail took over after an opening quarter in :26.2, then led the rest of the way, through a half in :54.4 and three-quarters in 1:23.1.

Turning for home, the 7-year-old gelded son of San Pellegrino-Village Beauty opened several lengths on his pursuers, then had enough left to fend off a game Rapide Lebel, the French challenger who was parked, incredibly, for the entire mile. Another European, Sweden’s Commander Crowe, wound up third.

Co-owned by his breeder, Glenn Van Camp of Port Perry, Ontario, and his trainer, Rod Hughes of Dunsford, Ontario, San Pail was notching his 14th win (with two seconds) in 16 starts this year, after taking 13 of 15 outings last year.

He’s won Canada’s premier race for older trotters, the Maple Leaf Trot, three years in a row and has been an O’Brien Award winner as Canada’s top older trotter the last two years. Now, Horse of the Year honors await, certainly in Canada and possibly south of the border as well.

San Pail pushed his career earnings to over C$2.9 million and paid $3.20 to win.

“Well, good horses you can do that, they make you look good,” said Waples. “He’s just an unbelievable horse. But I have to give full credit to Rod, his crew, the Hughses and Mr. Van Camp. Rod does so much good by this horse. Seems like he has him at his very best when it counts and he’s just an unbelievable horse.

“l was moving into the first turn and I was more than willing to sit third. I settled with him before but when I saw Rapide Lebel starting to come I changed my mind and kept him three-wide as long as I could. I just didn’t want to give up the position. At this track it is so important to have position, you have got to be up near the front. I honestly think that if I had stayed where I was and the other horse had gotten to the front I don’t think I would have beat him; they both raced unbelievable, they are truly champion horses. They are just unbelievable, it was a great experience to race against them. I’m glad that I beat them but they didn’t lose any races tonight. They just raced unbelievable. What a rush.

“There are so many things that add up to a great horse. He’s got all of them, he’s got heart, he’s got stamina, he’s got everything going for him. But I honestly, and I’m getting choked up saying this, but I’m so thankful for all you people that come out and support this horse, it means so much to hear you guys cheering and everyone that loves this horse as much as we do. I just love this horse to death.”

“(He’s a) world champion right now,” said Rod Hughes. “I’m going to say thank you to Randy Waples right here, he moved before the quarter and it probably proved to be an exceptional drive, thank you Randy.

“That’s what this sport needs right now; a horse like this to stick around and race and show what type of crowd we can bring out once they have been here a while.”