Much like building a house, there's a lot that goes into developing a successful stable of Standardbred stars, the likes of which Luc Blais has become accustomed to campaigning in recent years.

On the heels of winning the 2021 O'Brien Award of Horsemanship at the recent virtual gala hosted by Standardbred Canada, Blais acknowledged the team behind his stable, which has produced winners in some of the sport's biggest stakes.

While those bucket list races are what every horseperson strives to win, Blais enjoys seeing the time and hard work of developing a foundation for success in his trainees pay off no matter the calibre of race.

"When you win a race, it doesn't matter what kind of race," said Blais, who sent 44 winners postward in 2021 and eclipsed $2 million in earnings for the sixth consecutive year as the private trainer for Determination. "I remember when I started, it was not easy all the time. I would have a cheap horse with my father, but when you work on the horse for a week and you're racing and you win, I think it's a good buzz all the time.

"You need to build that to go there. It's like you build a house and you see your house and you're happy."

With an arsenal of returning stars plus 14 promising yearlings, the Quebec native is looking forward to 2022.

"I'm very pleased right now with what I've got. I've got a nice barn right now. I've got a good feeling in the barn. I don't know, but I've got a really, really good feeling. Healthy and strong horses. We'll see, I hope. Just keep that like that and I'm going to be happy in the end."

Trot Insider caught up with Blais, who discussed navigating the obstacles associated with the pandemic for success on both sides of the border in 2021, the impressive comeback of Forbidden Trade, who was named U.S. Older Male Trotter of the Year, and updates on his other stars including O'Brien Award finalist Donna Soprano.