One was nasty, the other was a slow learner, but trotting siblings Wildwild Men and Seeyou Men both got their act together in 2015, to the point where they'll be favoured Sunday in their respective Québec-Bred Series finals at Hippodrome 3R.
"It's been a really good year," said Ontario-based Robert Shepherd, regular driver of both geldings. "The two-year-old [Wildwild Men] was mean, which is why they gelded him, but he's been good since he got to the track. He's smart and he's got speed. The three-year-old [Seeyou Men] was less mature and one point it didn't look like he'd get to the races. He's still a bit goofy at the farm but on track he's smartened up. I think he'll develop into a nice horse."
The two Muscle Mass geldings have blossomed since entering the care of trainer Isabelle Darveau, 35, whose 16-horse stable is based at a farm near Flamboro Downs, an eight-hour drive from Hippodrome 3R. She knew the horses' owners, Quebecers Catheline Pelletier and Chantal Gravel. She also knew Shepherd.
"Isabelle's my girlfriend [of two years]. We do the horses together," said Shepherd, a 35-year-old Prince Edward Island native whose more than 2,500 driving victories includes a triumph in Alberta's rich Nat Christie Pace.
He'd never driven at Hippodrome 3R before this year.
"I really like it there," he said. "Reminds me of back home. It seems like everybody's there and excited to be racing. They've been great to me and I don't speak French."
Entering Sunday's finals, Wildwild Men had four wins in seven starts and $30,900 collected, while Seeyou Men had a pair of wins in seven tries and $13,301 on his card. They could more than double their combined total with victories in their $65,000 and $55,000 races on Sunday, but Shepherd isn't taking anything for granted.
"They're trotters," he said. "If they behave and get away trotting, we'll work things out from there."
To view Sunday's harness racing entries, click on the following link: Sunday Entries - Hippodrome 3R.
(Trot Insider exclusive by Paul Delean / Photos courtesy ThePhotoDesk)