Expect to see more of 2016 Future Star Award winner Louis-Philippe Roy in 2017 as the up-and-coming driver has modified plans from those previously revealed.

Trot Insider caught up with Roy to discuss his first O'Brien Awards experience and plans for 2017 at the Black Tie Gala hosted by Standardbred Canada. The award capped off a 'starry' night for the 27-year-old.

"For me, it's like a young kid being with people from the National Hockey League or something, meeting people that I was watching on the internet one year ago, so it's a big night for me."

Trainers such as O'Brien Award winner Richard Moreau and Rene Allard have taken notice, using Roy with increased frequency on the Woodbine Entertainment circuit.

"He's very calm, he's relaxed in the bike and he's been doing a great job, especially for a young guy that just comes to a A circuit like that," Allard told Trot Insider in January. "I'm very pleased with the way he's driving my horses. He reminds me a lot of Scott Zeron; when Scott started out he was driving for me at Grand River and driving here and there and I had great luck with him, and he reminds me of him a lot. I can see [Louis Philippe] on the U.S. side of the border and doing very well in the future."

Roy put together some phenomenal numbers in 2016, winning 237 races and driving horses to earnings of more than $1.1 million. The Quebec reinsman was the leading dash-winning driver at Hippodrome 3R and Rideau Carleton Raceway.

To view the full list of 2016 O'Brien Awards winners, click here.