McNair wins National Driving Championship with grand slam

Ontario harness racing representative Doug McNair won the 2022 National Driving Championship at Century Mile on Thursday (Nov. 24), earning a spot in the 2023 World Driving Championship in Europe.

Canada’s 2017 Driver of the Year went wire-to-wire, leading from the first race with a quick double to start the competition. David Kelly reeled him in with a pair of his own in the mid-card, but McNair secured his title with two straight wins in races eight and nine. The complete grand slam gave him 84 points to Kelly’s 59 and rendered the finale academic.

It was deja vu for McNair, who also won the 2018 National Driving Championship with four wins. In the 2022 triumph, he got revenge on Ontario Driving Champion Louis-Philippe Roy and defeated former National Driving Champion Gilles Barrieau. He finished with 91 points.

McNair will now represent Canada in the 2023 World Driving Championship.

The final standings are: McNair 91; Kelly 69; Berube 46; Roy 41; Campbell 35; Barrieau 33.5; Fillion 31; Hennessy 29.5.

Below is a race-by-race recap of the action.

Race 10

Marc Campbell clawed back a consolation victory after entering the final race in eighth of eight. He grinded out the score with Blue Who (Blue Burner), who tucked into the pocket after stalling first-over in the third quarter. The gelding then re-rallied to out-finish Custards Dragon and runner-up David Kelly to win in 1:54.3.

Drivers order of finish: Campbell-Kelly-McNair-Berube-Fillion-Roy-Hennessy-Barrieau.

BLUE WHO REPLAY

Race 9

Doug McNair became the 2022 National Driving Champion with style, completing the grand slam and booking his place in the Canada colours with Captain Mike Deo (Captaintreacherous). He was patient with the sophomore gelding, occupying the three-hole for much of the mile and into the stretch. He found daylight through traffic, and Captain Mike Deo exploded late to catch Grampian Road (Fillion) for the title-sealing victory in 1:57.4.

Drivers order of finish: McNair-Fillion-Kelly-Hennessy-Roy-Campbell-Berube-Barrieau (DQ;3p8).

CAPTAIN MIKE DEO REPLAY

Race 8

Doug McNair pulled out a clutch victory heading into the latter stages to add some cushion to his dwindling lead. Aboard Litizor (Vertical Horizon), the reinsman sat fourth behind swapping leaders and went on the march as the field stared down the final turn. Litizor rounded the turn two-wide and motored to the top in the final eighth of the mile. He then held off Tajmania (Roy) to seal the win in 1:55.3.

Drivers order of finish: McNair-Roy-Barrieau-Hennessy-Berube-Kelly-Campbell-Fillion.

LITIZOR REPLAY

Race 7

David Kelly doubled up and put himself in serious contention in front of a home crowd as he executed a successful brush-and-crush from post seven with Suellen Hanover (Bettors Delight). After sitting third through the first half, Kelly ordered the filly to the top. She reached her destination quickly and refused to relent for the remainder, soaring to the finish three lengths the best under wraps in 1:57.2.

Drivers order of finish: Kelly-Roy-McNair-Berube-Fillion-Barrieau/Hennessy (DH)-Campbell.

SUELLEN HANOVER REPLAY

Race 6

Pascal Berube flew the fleur-de-lis for Quebec with a confident steer aboard Light My Shadow (Shadow Play). He popped first-over from third at the midway point and attacked leader Promising Flight (Louis-Philippe Roy). The foes battled on level terms into the stretch, and Promising Flight began to draw away in the final eighth of a mile. He was a length-and-a-half the best over the closing Bohannon (Kelly) in 1:55.2.

Drivers order of finish: Berube-Kelly-McNair-Roy-Barrieau-Hennessy-Fillion-Campbell.

LIGHT MY SHADOW REPLAY

Race 5

Dave Kelly’s bold four-wide move on the homeward turn gave him his first NDC victory and launched him to second in the standings. The Alberta local, who subbed in for Rod Therres last minute, guided Blue Powder (Blue Burner) onto cover third-over on the backstretch before swinging the gelding widest of all. The five-year-old straightened for home in second and muscled through the stretch to vanquish pacesetter Subzero and NDC leader Doug McNair en route to a 1:54.4 win.

Drivers order of finish: Kelly-McNair-Campbell-Fillion-Hennessy-Roy-Berube-Barrieau.

BLUE POWDER REPLAY

Race 4

McNair got a slam dunk double as he and Oriental Express (Mystician) cruised to victory from the front. He removed the mare from third as the field entered the backstretch and sent her to the engine in the second panel. It was light work for the reinsman in the stretch as the five-year-old sailed to a two-and-a-half-length victory in 1:57.4.

Drivers order of finish: McNair-Berube-Barrieau-Roy-Campbell-Hennessy-Kelly-Fillion.

ORIENTAL EXPRESS REPLAY

Race 3

A big effort from Jayden Riley (Lambretta) gave Ontarian Doug McNair the first call in the NDC. The driver fed the five-year-old mare the lead, and she tangled with Gold Onthehorizon (Michael Hennessy) from the half to the finish. The latter briefly eclipsed the former at two points, but Jayden Riley dug deep down the lane to reclaim the front and score by three-quarters-of-a-length in 1:56.3.

Drivers order of finish: McNair-Barrieau-Kelly-Hennessy-Fillion-Berube-Campbell-Roy

JAYDEN RILEY REPLAY

For complete race results, click here.

by Nicholas Barnsdale, for Harnesslink