Not many people can head into this weekend's O’Brien Awards knowing they have an award secured, but trainer Luc Blais is in that rare position.
The Quebec native, who has become the man in charge training Serge Godin’s Determination Stable, conditions both nominees for Two-Year-Old Trotting Male of the Year—Macho Martini and On A Streak. Blais also trains nominee for Two-Year-Old Trotting Filly of the Year Donna Soprano, but can sit on the edge of his seat as that filly competes for the title against Paul Walker trainee Imextraspecial.
“It was an amazing year,” Blais said. “You know, when you win an O’Brien, for me, it’s the best [award] you can win. Because it touches a lot of people that are around that horse. The owner can be part of that, the groom, the blacksmith...lots of people are involved and they're very happy. That’s why it’s very special when a horse wins an O’Brien Award. We had a lot of thrills this year with the two-year-olds.”
Macho Martini
In the case of Blais’ boys, Macho Martini appeared at first to be the better of the two, uncorking a seven-race win streak leading up to the William Wellwood Memorial. But come the Wellwood, On A Streak established himself as a top freshman when fighting gamely to the finish against Southwind Tyrion top win in rein to Scott Young. On A Streak then, with the win in the Wellwood, earned a spot to compete in the Mohawk Million and fought closing rivals to hold third behind Venerate and stablemate Donna Soprano.
“It’s funny; she impressed [me] when she raced against only fillies, but she really impressed me in that million-dollar race,” Blais said of Donna Soprano. “She came first over and fought to the wire against (2020 Dan Patch Award winner) Venerate. She fought a lot.
“The Peaceful Way was very special to me as well. Those two races impressed me.”
Donna Soprano lost the first race of her career in the Mohawk Million. Prior to that event, the daughter of Donato Hanover - Windsong Soprano won five straight races including the $84,500 Pure Ivory, an $86,665 Champlain division and the $335,000 Peaceful Way. From the Mohawk Million, both Donna Soprano and On A Streak ventured south for the Breeders Crown while Macho Martini stayed home to finish the Ontario Sires Stakes season. Macho Martini managed a runner-up effort in the $250,000 Ontario Sires Stakes Super Final at the end of an 11-race season, and Donna Soprano failed to qualify for her Breeders Crown final after making a break at the gate. One week later, On A Streak gave Team Determination something to smile about. The freshman found room through the open stretch to win the $600,000 Breeders Crown Two-Year-Old Trot and rounded out the season with a runner-up finish in the $398,650 Valley Victory, losing by a neck in the final strides.
“[On A Streak] was amazing that night [in the Breeders Crown],” Blais also said. “He had a nice group of horses in that race and fought to the wire like a warrior. I was very, very pleased. It was a nice race to watch.”
“In the beginning I thought [Macho Martini] was my best horse,” Blais said. “The way he won, he was very strong. We had bad luck in a few races...it was not that easy behind to the gate. I think Bobby [McClure] did a really good job with him. He’s got lots of power, that horse. If I compare him with On A Streak and Donna, he’s the same caliber. And he never had a bad race this year. I think he impressed in the Champlain. I can say when he won in [1:]54, he was very good that night.
“Those horses have all the same abilities and the same desire. You can’t show that, you’ve got that. I think those three there, they’ve got that. I’m very privileged to be around those kinds of horses.”
On A Streak won just two races from 10 starts but banked $852,284 through the year. Donna Soprano, with five wins from seven starts, accrued $578,082 in purses; and Macho Martini earned $454,393 to contribute to Blais’ career-best season with more than $2.9 million in earnings. The numbers Blais posted in 2020 reflect ongoing excellence for the trainer and his connections, which have earned six O’Brien Awards over the last 10 years: three for Forbidden Trade (2018 Two-Year-Old Trotting Colt & 2019 Three-Year-Old Trotting Colt and Horse of the Year), two for Intimidate (2012 Three-Year-Old Trotting Colt & 2014 Older Trotting Horse) and one with Emoticon Hanover (2018 Older Trotting Mare).
“I’m the worst person to put pressure on me,” Blais said. “I’m very tough on me, I think. But that’s good. You need to pressure to be at the top level, that’s what I think. It’s pressure, but I like that, to be honest with you. At the end of the year you're tired when you stop the season, but when you start back with those horses you get excited to race...You need to be on the ball a little bit, you know?
“Usually we start with 30 horses and race around 20 something, depends on how good the two-year-olds are that year. Some two-year-olds don’t make it, but it’s usually around that,” Blais continued. “We kept more two-year-olds from last year, I turned out a few horses very early...that’s the good part of that process; we give them a chance. I’ve got a good owner for that. He’s got lots of patience, and that’s good for me. I never had pressure to push a horse to get ready.”
Donna Soprano
Blais believes that his O’Brien nominations don’t only reflect his horses’ success but also recognizes the people who help to keep and manage the operation each and every year, like owner Serge Godin and Dr. Eddy McCarrvill
“Sometimes we forget a guy like Eddy McCarrvill, he’s my veterinarian,” Blais said. “When I started with Determination, I started to go to the sales with him. He’s a part of that success, too...if those guys are not there, I don’t think we have that success. We started all together and we’re there now. We’re passionate people; we love the game.
“It’s really exciting when your horse is nominated. It’s good for everybody.”
The O’Brien time of year is typically one of more calm for Blais, whose mostly stakes-level horses have hit the bench to ready for the next year, even with the current provincial shutdown. However it’s a time Blais cherishes as a whole new season gets set to begin with a group of 2020 yearlings that Blais looks to develop into the next Donna Soprano, Macho Martini and On A Streak.
“I’m excited about the yearlings we have this year again. It’s a very good routine. I love training the babies. It makes me relax in the morning to jog those babies all together and talk about them. We’re dreaming a little bit, you know? Every season has got something. And now we’re going to start back with the three-year-olds and hope they come back like you project. That’s why I like that...I like young horses. They’re a different challenge every time.”
William Wellwood Memorial winner On A Streak
Of course, the pandemic that caused the shutdown of racing in Ontario in the first place has also forced the O’Brien Awards to be presented this year in a virtual format, which has Blais and many other horsepeople nostalgic for the times long ago when people from all across Canada gathered to see who would win their respective trophies.
“I like to go there with the team, and we enjoy the night. We’ll miss that..everyone's all dressed up and everybody’s excited to hear the nominations. It's a great event, I love it. They do a real good job, Standardbred Canada. It’s a good night with the people you’re around all year.”
And from the O’Briens, Blais will press forward with a strong stable of stakes contenders, including the potential return of 2019 Hambletonian winner and Somebeachsomewhere Horse of the Year Forbidden Trade as a five-year-old.
“It’s exciting for 2021 for sure. The bar is very high, but I’m very pleased about those horses after they were turned out and came back. They had a good rest, and they’ve come back good from that.” Blais has Donna Soprano back in the bike for some light jogging, but gave the boys of couple of extra weeks of turnout.
“[Forbidden Trade] had three months, four months stall rest,” Blais also said. “I just started light jogging with him. He looks really good. Really good. Everything healed very well and [he] looks sound, touch wood. I just hope he’s stays like this. We’re going to wait with him, take our time. He’s in a good shape, I’m very pleased the way he’s come back.”
Blais isn't just looking forward to the return of Forbidden Trade and his stable stars; he's just as eager for harness racing to resume in Ontario.
“It’s a shame for people who can’t race,” Blais also said. “I like to watch races too, and the quality of racing in the fall and winter at Mohawk is very good...I hope they’re going to start back soon.”
The 2020 Virtual O’Brien Awards Gala takes place on Sunday, January 31, 2021 and will be available for viewing on standardbredcanada.ca from 7:00 – 8:30 p.m. (EST).