Brosseau wins Quebec/Eastern Ontario driving championship – Harnesslink

Stephane Brosseau finished the competition with eight races with 67 points at the top of the overall standings with Robert Shepherd He finished second, just two points behind, and also qualified for the NDC on July 5.

The top two finishers from the last regional event will complete the field for the NDC. They will join defending champion Doug McNair, Atlantic Regional Driving Championship leaders Redmond Doucet and David Dowling, Ontario Regional Driving Championship qualifiers Tyler Borth and James MacDonald, and Western Regional Driving Championship representatives Phil Giesbrecht and Mike Hennessy. The NDC winner will represent Canada at the 2025 World Driving Championship in New Zealand.

​Brosseau, 54, was already runner-up in the NDC at Grand River Raceway in 2018 and the horseman from L'Assomption, Quebec, will look to improve on that result on his home turf.

“I'm really looking forward to racing against all these good drivers,” said Brosseau, who has won 3,816 races in his career. “And you know, like you said, I've been there before and it's a very nice life.”

“I'm happy to represent Three Rivers and be where I've been for, I don't know, 25 or 30 years. At my age, I know there aren't many opportunities waiting for me after that, so I'm trying to enjoy it one bit at a time.”

Despite some concerns about the draw of his lineup, Brosseau demonstrated his talent as a driver, his horses showed what they could do and he also had some luck on his side.

“In the end, it's always the horses that decide whether things go well or not,” said a modest Brosseau, whose QEORDC highlights included two winners and two second places. “You can drive well, but that doesn't mean the horse will react the way you think.”

The competition was tough, but Brosseau was in the running for the title from the start, missing the 26-1 Betonawheeln by a neck in the first heat. He closed to within a point of leader Guy Gagnon at the halfway point of the competition, winning the fourth heat with the Nicole Gagne-trained mare Better Kissthe Men ($4.10) in 1:57.2.

Brosseau solidified his lead throughout the second half of the QEORDC, picking up enough points to draw level with Gagnon and then top the leaderboard for the remainder of the race. His second victory in the sixth leg gave him the boost he needed to leave the competition behind. Brosseau was the first rider to repeat in the event, with favorite Gladiator S BG ($2.30) clearing an outside post after being parked for the first half-mile and leaving all challengers behind to take the win by a neck in 1:57.3, keeping the Jacques Dupont-trained colt perfect for his second record in three starts.

A judge's placement in the final section was the lucky factor for Brosseau as Gagnon's first-place finisher Greystone Watchman was dropped to third in the race for impediment, ultimately knocking him out of contention for a spot in the NDC. Brosseau and Ladycorona were bumped from third to second in the race, with Robert Shepherd handing his first win of the competition to the Michel Allard-trained mare YS Sensationalcity ($6). The win for Shepherd secured him second place in the QEORDC after falling five times on the finish line before the final section.

This is how the QEORDC races went.

QEORDC Stage 1 (3R Race 2)

Samuel Fillion started the contest with a 9-1 victory, taking the Gabriel Beaumont-trained trotter Miles Of Muscle ($21.50) into the backstretch on the first attempt and keeping Betonawheelin and Stephane Brosseau at bay as they headed into the homestretch in three lanes after an early mistake. Miles Of Muscle prevailed in a photo finish by a neck in 2:01.3. Guy Gagnon rode to third behind On The Sly.

QEORDC Stage 2 (3R Race 3)

The second leg of the Quebec/Eastern Ontario Regional ended in a battle of the favorites down the homestretch as Guy Gagnon and Denis Belanger-trained mare Latte Seelster ($5.80) stormed off the start, leaving Robert Shepherd and Prettydiva in their wake after three of them closed down the backstretch to chase the runaway leader at the front. Latte Seelster prevailed by a quarter of a length in a photo finish in 1:58. Samuel Fillion and Way Over followed the runner-up down the backstretch and followed five lengths behind in third. Gagnon moved level with first leg winner Fillion at the top of the leaderboard.

QEORDC Stage 3 (3R Race 4)

Nick Boyd survived a judge's examination with the Claude Beausoleil-trained gelding Iceneedswhiskey ($7.10) to take a hard-fought victory in heat three. Starting second, Boyd and Iceneedswhiskey emerged from a five-horse battle leading to the first turn while Robert Shepherd and Flashjack Soleil were left behind and battled for the win all mile long. The two were neck and neck down the backstretch and to the finish, with Iceneedswhiskey eventually prevailing in a photo finish by a quarter of a length in 1:57.3. Pascal Berube and Cesar PL finished third. Samuel Fillion moved into the lead in the points standings with a fourth-place finish on Pey Bug from Guy Gagnon.

QEORDC Stage 4 (3R Race 5)

Stephane Brosseau struck in the fourth heat and the even-chance mare Better Kissthe Men ($4.10) wore down the 6-5 second choice Shanghaibluebeach and Guy Gagnon in 1:57.2 to win by a length. Brosseau made the decisive move just before the half-mile mark, sending the Nicole Gagne-trained mare out first from third position. Jimbelina passed her three-way rival on the backstretch and came out on top in a show photo for Robert Shepherd.

Guy Gagnon took the lead at the halfway point with his second place finish, just one point ahead of Brosseau (35-34). Shepherd moved into third place ahead of early leader Samuel Fillion.

QEORDC Stage 5 (3R Race 6)

Pascal Berube delivered a winning performance in race five after a pocket trip with 1-5 favorite Mach Tie Son ($2.70). With the advantage of the inside post, Berube won an early four-way battle for the lead but had to give way to Samuel Fillion and Mach Play as that pair pushed from the outside into the backstretch. Berube waited for the right moment with the Daniel Molaison-trained gelding in the pocket before launching his charge on the final turn, beating the pacesetter by three-quarters of a length in 1:58.2. Third place went to late finishers Big Zaid and Nick Boyd. At the top of the tournament standings, Guy Gagnon and Stephane Brosseau are now tied for first place.

QEORDC Stage 6 (3R Race 7)

Stephane Brosseau became the first rider to repeat his victory in the Quebec/Eastern Ontario Regional, completing a cross-country trip from the outside with 1-9 favorite Gladiator S BG ($2.30). Parked for the first half-mile, Brosseau took the lead after the first lap with Gladiator S BG and beat all challengers by a neck in 1:57.3, perfectly matching the Jacques Dupont-trained colt's record in three starts in his second year. Nick Boyd and Jayport Lexus were dangerous late but settled for second when they drifted down the homestretch. Robert Shepherd and Shanghaigold finished third, 4 3/4 lengths behind. With the win, Brosseau broke a tie in the points standings and secured sole control of the top spot.

QEORDC Stage 7 (3R Race 8)

Pascal Berube returned to the winner's circle with the 13-year-old gelding Brodys Scrapper ($6.20) after winning the seventh stage from the pocket in 1:55.3 for trainer David Pilon. Samuel Fillion let Mickeymaksomespeed fire from the outside post and cut across the stretch on the first turn to take the lead over Brodys Scrapper. Hot on the leader's heels for the second time on the backstretch, Berube pulled the right line and Brodys Scrapper pulled away on the final turn and rode his way to a 2.5-length lead. Race favorites GA Speed ​​Joey and Robert Shepherd recovered from a start attempt to take the lead in second ahead of Mickeymaksomespeed and Fillion. Stephane Brosseau maintained his position at the top of the leaderboard heading into the final stage of the Quebec/Eastern Ontario Regional with the competition close behind him.

QEORDC Stage 8 (3R Race 9)

Robert Shepherd reached several finish lines during the competition and finally had his breakthrough with the Michel Allard-trained mare YS Sensationalcity ($6) in the $6,500 Preferred Pace. He inherited the victory on the final leg after favored first-place finisher Greystone Watchman, ridden by Guy Gagnon, was relegated to the places for impediment. Greystone Watchman took the three-horse lead after a competitive first quarter and began to pull away from his opponents for the last time in the backstretch, with the late bloomers launching their attacks from behind. After starting from post 8 and racing overland in the back of the field the entire mile, YS Sensationalcity fought back bravely and Shepherd crossed the finish line in second place at 1:55.4 miles. Ladycorona and Stephane Brosseau closed in on third and inherited second place when Greystone Watchman was relegated back to third.

With their top performances on the final stage, points leader Brosseau secured the Quebec/Eastern Ontario regional driving championship title and Shepherd climbed to second place.

Here's a look at the final leaderboard:

1. Stephane Brosseau – 67 points

2. Robert Shepherd – 65

3. Samuel Fillion – 55

4. Guy Gagnon – 54

5. Pascal Berube – 52

6. Nick Boyd – 50

7. Jimmy Gagnon – 17

8. Stephane Pouliot – 16

Click on the following link to view all entries for Sunday’s trotting race: Sunday entries – Hippodrome 3R.

Out of Standardbred Canada