Mighty Heart was crowned Horse of the Year for the second time during Thursday's 47th Annual Sovereign Awards ceremony, hosted by The Jockey Club of Canada. The Larry Cordes homebred, trained by Josie Carroll, won the G2 Autumn Stakes and G3 Dominion Day Stakes in 2021, along with the listed Blame Stakes at Churchill Downs. The one-eyed fan-favorite was also named champion older main track male.
The son of Dramedy won the Queen's Plate and Prince of Wales Stakes in 2020 en route to being voted Horse of the Year and champion 3-year-old.
The top three finalists in each category are determined by the online ballots of the Jockey Club of Canada's knowledgeable voters. The media category award finalists were determined by media professionals within the industry selected from across North America.
The Jockey Club of Canada is pleased to announce the 2021 Sovereign Award winners in the order in which they were presented.
Outstanding Photograph: WILL WONG
Welcome Back
Published July 1, 2021; Ontario Racing
Thank you Jockey Club of Canada! I can't believe this happened again. I am so grateful and blessed! https://t.co/lOmNdKqyQf
— MR. WILL WONG
(@mrwillw) April 14, 2022
Outstanding Writing: HAYLEY MORRISON
New Races, New Faces: How I Fell for The Fort
Published November 12, 2021 on CanadianThoroughbred.com
Outstanding Audio Visual/Digital Broadcast: WOODBINE ENTERTAINMENT
The Queen's Plate
Aired on CTV/TSN Sunday, August 22, 2021
https://bcove.video/2VMm4VL
Outstanding Groom: DENZIL FONSECA
The Jockey Club of Canada is proud to present Denzil Fonseca with the 2021 Outstanding Groom Award, sponsored by OLG. This year marks Denzil's 40th year working on the Woodbine backstretch. For the past 14 years he has been a groom for trainer Mike Doyle.
Denzil has worked for many accomplished horsepeople in Ontario including trainers John Charalambous, Cliff Hopmans, Jr. and Deborah England. He groomed many top horses for England.
In recent years, Denzil has been the groom for many top horses from the Mike Doyle barn. Most notable of these was Holy Helena, a strong filly who came to Ontario for a stint in the summer of 2017 and won the Woodbine Oaks and Queen's Plate for Stronach Stables.
“I am so happy to be recognized by the Jockey Club,” said Denzil. “I love horses and my job and I have a great respect for Mr. Doyle and his team.”
E. P. Taylor Award of Merit: IVAN DALOS
Ivan came to Canada from Hungary around the same time E.P. Taylor opened Woodbine racetrack in 1956 and put together a successful flooring and construction business. Once the horse racing bug took hold it did not take long for one of the first horses bred by Ivan to make news on an international stage.
Victory Gallop, a son of Cryptoclearance and the first foal of his mare Victorious Lil spoiled Real Quiet's bid for a Triple Crown sweep when he beat him by a nose in the Belmont Stakes (G1).
Ivan immersed himself in pedigrees, seeking that perfect 'nick' and a broodmare band that numbered a handful is now more than three dozen, many of which are a part of several generations of Tall Oaks breeding.Tall Oaks won its first Sovereign for Outstanding Breeder in 2018 and doubled up in 2020.
A dedicated family man Ivan enjoys sharing the racing experiences with wife Irene and his three daughters, one of whom, Colleen, has moved into a lead role in the racing and breeding operation. “I started Tall Oaks for my family,” said Ivan. “I try to breed every horse to the best of my ability.”
Champion Two-Year-Old Female: MRS. BARBARA
Trainer: Mark E. Casse
Owner: Spruce Stable
Breeder: Jim Dandy Stable
DK B. F. 2, by Bodemeister – Destroy (Housebuster)
2021: 6 Starts – 2 wins – 1 second – 1 third – $144,809
Winner: Mazarine S. (G3), MSW
Mrs. Barbara (112), Moira (59), Diabolic (49)
Champion Two-Year-Old Male: GOD OF LOVE
Trainer: Mark E. Casse
Owner: Eclipse Thoroughbred Partners and Barber, Gary
Breeder: William D. Graham
CH. C. 2, by Cupid – No Wonder (Three Wonders)
2021: 4 Starts – 2 wins – 0 seconds – 0 thirds – $208,993
Winner: Grey S. (G3), Cup and Saucer S.
God of Love (113), Grafton Street (54), Ironstone (40)
Champion Three-Year-Old Female: MUNNYFOR RO
Trainer: Kevin Attard
Owner: Raroma Stable
Breeder: Daybar, LTD.
CH. F. 3, by Munnings – Repartee (Distorted Humor)
2021: 10 Starts – 4 wins – 2 seconds – 2 thirds – $548,561
Winner: Ontario Damsel S., Wonder Where S., Woodbine Oaks, MSW
Munnyfor Ro (118), Our Flash Drive (69), Lorena (27)
Champion Three-Year-Old Male: FROSTED OVER
Trainer: Mark Casse
Owner: Gary Barber
Breeder: G. Watts Humphrey Jr.
B. C. 3, by Frosted- Candy Crush (Candy Ride *Arg)
2021: 5 Starts – 3 wins – 1 second – 0 thirds – $168,786
Winner: Ontario Derby (G3), ALW, MSW
Frosted Over (123), Uncharacteristic (35), Artie's Storm (35), Haddassah (18)
Outstanding Broodmare: AVIE'S EMPIRE
DK. B. M. 2008 by Empire Maker – Fly for Avie (Lord Avie)
3 Starters, 3 Winners, 1 Champion, 1 Graded Blacktype winner, 1 Blacktype winner, 1 Graded Blacktype placed
Progeny earnings $1,430,306
Avie's Empire was bred by Sovereign Award-winning breeder Ivan Dalos under his stable name, Tall Oaks Farm. A daughter of Grade 1 winner Fly for Avie, who raced for Dalos. Avie's Empire never made the races, but has been a gem in the breeding shed. Avie's Empire's son Avie's Flatter (Flatter), the Champion 2-Year-Old of 2018, was a double graded winner in 2021 taking the Grade 2 Nearctic Stakes and Grade 2 Connaught Cup Stakes. Avie's Empire is also the dam of 2018 Wonder Where Stakes winner Avie's Mineshaft (Mineshaft) and Avie's Mesa (Sky Mesa), who was second in the Grade 3 Singspiel Stakes. Avie's Empire has a 2022 foal by Tapit.
Avie's Empire (72), Include Katherine (71), Sunday Affair (28)
Outstanding Breeder: SAM-SON FARM
Starters 52; Winners 31
278 Starts; 45 Wins; 48 Seconds; 32 Thirds
Earnings $2,671,554
More than half a century since Sam-Son Farms was founded by the late Ernie Samuel, the iconic Canadian farm remains at the top of the charts of leading breeders. Horses foaled on the Milton, Ontario farm earned over $2.6 million in 2021 and there were 31 winners from 52 starters. Say the Word, the 2020 Champion Turf Male in Canada, won the Grade 2 Hollywood Turf Cup at Del Mar and Grade 2 Elkhorn Stakes at Keeneland for Sam-Son and co-owners Agave Racing. The son of More Than Ready was also second in the Grade 1 Shoemaker Mile. The exciting Messier, a 2-year-old colt by Empire Maker, won the Grade 3 Bob Hope Stakes and Rideforthecause and Curlin's Catch were other Stakes winners bred by Sam-Son.
Sam-Son Farm (123), Adena Springs (35), Tall Oaks Farm (31)
Champion Female Sprinter: AMALFI COAST
Trainer: Kevin Attard
Owner: Tracy Farmer
Breeder: Terra Farms Ltd.
CH. M. 5, by Tapizar – Include Katherine (Include)
2021: 5 Starts – 2 wins – 1 second – 2 thirds – $246,763
Winner: Ontario Fashion S. (G3), Royal North S. (G2)
Amalfi Coast (116), Our Secret Agent (60), Lorena (22)
Champion Male Sprinter: PINK LLOYD
Trainer: Robert P. Tiller
Owner: Entourage Stable
Breeder: John Carey
CH. G. 9, by Old Forester – Gladiator Queen (Great Gladiator)
2021: 5 Starts – 3 wins – 2 seconds – 0 thirds – $289,742
Winner: Kennedy Road S. (G2), Ontario Jockey Club S., Bold Venture S. (G3)
Pink Lloyd (117), Avie's Flatter (57), Souper Stonehenge (37)
Outstanding Apprentice Jockey: MAURICIO MALVAEZ
252 Starts; 28 Wins; 34 Seconds; 34 Thirds
Earnings $470,225
A winner of the 2020 Sovereign Award for Outstanding Apprentice Jockey, Mauricio Malvaez switched over to riding racehorses in 2019 after a promising boxing career. The son of jockey Marcos Malvaez had his first full season of riding in 2020 in Alberta and rode Real Grace to a big win in the Grade 3 Canadian Derby. Mauricio bettered his 2020 totals in 2021 riding 19 winners at Century Mile, including Canadian Juvenile Stakes winner Asyoubelieve. He then moved his tack to Woodbine Racetrack in mid-September. In 2021 he won 28 races, leading all apprentice riders in Canada.
Mauricio Malvaez (136), Michael David (59), Edgar Zenteno (43)
Outstanding Jockey: KAZUSHI KIMURA
722 Starts; 140 Wins; 98 Seconds; 99 Thirds
Earnings $5,152,154; Stakes wins 8
Following only his fourth season as a jockey in Canada, Kazushi Kimura has earned his first nomination as Outstanding Jockey. Already a two-time winner of the Outstanding Apprentice Sovereign Award and an Eclipse Award winner for top apprentice, the Japanese-born rider's 140 victories easily topped all Canadian riders. His mounts earned over $5.1 million in purses. Kazushi's eight stakes wins included a win in the Grade 3 Ontario Derby aboard Gary Barber's Frosted Over. He also won the Grade 3 Hendrie on Barber's Our Secret Agent. Kazushi maintained an impressive 19 percent win rate in 2021.
Kazushi Kimura (116), Rafael Manuel Hernandez (58), Patrick Husbands (25), Justin Stein (25)
Champion Female Turf Horse: JOLIE OLIMPICA
Trainer: Josie Carroll
Owner: Shimokobe Farm
Breeder: Stud T N T
CH. M. 5, by Drosselmeyer – Jolie Celina *Brz (Trempolino)
2021: 5 Starts – 1 win – 1 second – 1 third – $118,987
Winner: Nassau S. (G2)
Jolie Olimpica (92), Amalfi Coast (56), Our Flash Drive (50)
Champion Male Turf Horse: TOWN CRUISE
Trainer: Brandon Evan Greer
Owner: Brandon Greer
Breeder: Terrance Reg Greer & Brandon Evan Greer
CH. G. 6, by Town Prize – Candy Cruise (Candy Ride *Arg)
2021: 5 Starts – 3 wins – 1 second – 0 thirds – $704,953
Winner: Woodbine Mile S. (G1), ALW/OC, ALW
Town Cruise (127), Avie's Flatter (62), Silent Poet (24)
Outstanding Trainer: MARK E. CASSE
540 Starts; 110 Wins; 80 Seconds; 67 Thirds
Earnings $6,525,302; Stakes wins 27
Mark Casse sent out the winners of a staggering 27 stakes races, a personal record for his Woodbine stable, and his trainees won 110 races, also a new career top. His Canadian runners earned over $6.5 million. He is the trainer of the impressive 2-year-old Canadian-bred colt God of Love, who won the Grey Stakes (G3) and the Cup and Saucer Stakes for Eclipse Thoroughbred Partners and Gary Barber. The Casse stable, under the watchful eyes of assistants David Adams and Kathryn Sullivan, developed many horses into graded stakes winners. Stable stars included two-time graded stakes winner Our Flash Drive, Mazarine Stakes (G3) winner Mrs. Barbara, Skygaze winner of the Maple Leaf Stakes (G3), Souper Stonehenge winner of the Vigil (G3) and Jacques Cartier Stakes (G3) and Frosted Over, who took the Ontario Derby (G3).
Mark E. Casse (123), Kevin Attard (67), Josie Carroll (30)
Champion Older Main Track Female: SKYGAZE
Trainer: Mark E. Casse
Owner: Tracy Farmer
Breeder: Normandy Farm LLC
B. F. 4, by American Pharoah – Skyscape (Marquetry)
2021: 5 Starts – 3 wins – 1 second – 1 third – $179,200
Winner: Maple Leaf S. (G3), Belle Mahone S., ALW/OC
Skygaze (106), Amalfi Coast (73), Infinite Patience (29)
Champion Older Main Track Male: MIGHTY HEART
Trainer: Josie Carroll
Owner: Lawrence Cordes
Breeder: Lawrence Cordes
B. C. 4, by Dramedy – Emma's Bullseye (City Place)
2021: 8 Starts – 3 wins – 2 seconds – 2 thirds – $377,361
Winner: Autumn S. (G2), Dominion Day S. (G3), Blame S.
Mighty Heart (108), Pink Lloyd (60), Sir Winston (40)
Outstanding Owner: LIVE OAK PLANTATION
68 Starts; 19 Wins; 7 Seconds; 4 Thirds
Earnings $1,403,812; Stakes wins 7
Live Oak Plantation, owned by Charlotte Weber, won its first Sovereign Award for Outstanding Owner in 2020 and had an even more lucrative season with its Canadian starters in 2021. Live Oak, located in Ocala, Florida, won 19 races from 68 starters, including seven stakes races. Leading the charge for the stable was Our Flash Drive, trained by Mark Casse, who won the Selene Stakes (G3) on Tapeta and the Ontario Colleen Stakes (G2) on the turf. Live Oak's homebred gelding Souper Stonehenge won the Vigil Stakes (G3) and Jacques Cartier Stakes (G3). Another top runner for Live Oak in 2021 was Souper Escape. Other stakes winners for the farm included March to the Arch and Tap It to Win.
Live Oak Plantation (100), Gary Barber (61), Godolphin, LLC (35)
Horse of the Year: MIGHTY HEART
Trainer: Josie Carroll
Owner: Lawrence Cordes
Breeder: Lawrence Cordes
B. C. 4, by Dramedy – Emma's Bullseye (City Place)
2021: 8 Starts – 3 wins – 2 seconds – 2 thirds – $377,361
Winner: Autumn S. (G2), Dominion Day S. (G3), Blame S.
Mighty Heart (63), Pink Lloyd (55), Town Cruise (34)
The post Mighty Heart Earns Second Straight Canadian Horse Of The Year Title appeared first on Horse Racing News | Paulick Report.
