San Pail Scores Sixth Straight Win

Despite leaving from the outside Post 9, North America's top ranked standardbred San Pail made his sixth straight victory look like an easy task on Saturday night at Woodbine Racetrack

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With the public showing their support for the talented trotter, heavy 1-2 favourite San Pail worked his way to the lead in the $50,000 Open Trot, clearing past the :28.1 opening quarter mark. The seven-year-old son of San Pellegrino and driver Randy Waples rolled past middle splits of :57.2 and 1:25.4 without facing any serious challengers and cruised home for the two length victory in 1:55 flat. Tall Cotton (Jack Moiseyev) angled off the rail from third down the stretch to place over the advancing Lucky Jim (Luc Ouellette).

San Pail's current win streak includes victories in the Allerage, Credit Winner, Nat Ray and Maple Leaf Trot (his third straight win in that stake).

Canada's 2009 and 2010 Older Trotting Horse of the Year is owned by trainer Rod Hughes of Dunsford, Ont. and breeder Glenn Van Camp of Port Perry, Ont. He has won 13 races and has never finished worse than second in 15 starts this year for seasonal earnings of $965,250. Tonight's win was his 48th lifetime and boosted his overall bankroll to $2.67 million.

San Pail paid $3 to win.

Saturday night's other Open events went to four-year-olds Mach Dreamer and Maureen Rocks.

Mach Dreamer and driver Mark MacDonald rallied home off second over cover to win the matching Open Pace in 1:51 by a nose over Alexie Mattosie. Odds-on favourite Bigtime Ball (Paul MacDonell) led the field past panels of :26.3, :55.4 and 1:23, but couldn't hold off the backfield down the stretch and ended up finishing fifth. Alexie Mattosie (Jody Jamieson) advanced first over from third at the half and collared the millionaire pacer with less than an eighth of a mile to go. He was then nipped by the hard closing Mach Dreamer in the final strides. Dalhousie Dave (Scott Zeron) finished two lengths behind in third.

Mach Dreamer paid $9.30 to win as the 7-2 third choice. The son of Mach Three-Boy Meets Girl is trained by Murray Brethour for the Scarff Legacy Stables of Halifax, N.S. The win was his fourth in 16 tries this year and lifted his seasonal earnings to $138,050.

In the $42,000 Fillies & Mare Open Pace, Maureen Rocks and driver Scott Zeron fired off the gate from Post 7 and were caught three-high around the first turn. The daughter of Rocknroll Hanover-Armbro Maureen pressed on and cleared the lead past the opening quarter mark of :26.3. She proceeded to the half in :54.2 and three-quarters in 1:22.4 while Ticket To Rock (Jody Jamieson) launched a first over attack from fourth. Down the stretch, pocket-sitter Rebeka Bayama (Sylvain Filion) attempted to sneak up the rail, but Maureen Rocks quickly shut that door. She won by one and three-quarter lengths in 1:52.1. Rebeka Bayama finished second with Ticket To Rock third.

Maureen Rocks paid $4.90 to win as the 3-2 favourite. She has won half of her 14 starts this year while banking $130,090. Maureen Rocks is owned and bred by Ohio's Emerald Highlands Farm and is trained by Tony O'Sullivan, who also clicked with Scott Zeron for a 1:53.2 victory in the $30,000 Preferred 2 Pace with Aled Hanover and scored an Ontario Sires Stakes Gold Final win with the Doug McNair-driven Camaes Fellow.

To view Saturday's harness racing results, click on the following link: Saturday Results - Woodbine Racetrack.