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Canadian Horse of the Year Goes to Mighty Heart

Dual Canadian Classic winner Mighty Heart (Dramedy), a homebred for Lawrence Cordes, was named Canadian Horse of the Year at the 46th Annual Sovereign Awards ceremony held Thursday evening. It marked the second year in a row Canada's championship awards were held virtually due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic.

Trained by Josie Carroll, Mighty Heart began his sophomore campaign in July with a maiden special weight victory at Woodbine, then went on to capture the Sept. 12 Queen's Plate S. and the Sept. 29 Prince of Wales S. The one-eyed fan favorite also earned the champion 3-year-old male honor.

Josie Carroll also trained the winner of the champion 3-year-old female title in Curlin's Voyage (Curlin). Running for the partnership of Hill 'n' Dale Equine Holdings and Windsor Boys Racing, Curlin's Voyage won both the Woodbine Oaks and the Fury S.

Champion older main track male honors went to the Gary Barber and Lucio Tucci runner Skywire (Afleet Alex), who won the GII Autumn S. and the GII Eclipse S. Live Oak homebred Souper Escape (Medaglia d'Oro), winner of both the GIII Seaway S. and the GIII Trillium S., took home the champion older main track female award.

The Sovereign for champion 2-year-old colt was awarded to Eclipse Thoroughbred Partners and Gary Barber's Gretzky the Great (Nyquist), winner of the GI Summer S. and Soaring Free S., while champion 2-year-old filly honors went to Charles E. Fipke's homebred Lady Speightspeare (Speightstown), who captured the GI Natalma S.

The title of champion male turf horse went to GI Northern Dancer S. winner Say the Word (More Than Ready), an Agave Racing Stable and Sam-Son Farm colorbearer. Augustin Stables homebred Theodora B. (Ghostzapper), who won the GII Dance Smartly S. and the TVG S., took home the champion female turf award.

Always popular, the 2017 Canadian Horse of the Year Pink Lloyd (Old Forester), who had also previously been named champion male sprinter three times, as well as champion older dirt male and champion older horse, was back to add another championship title to his resume with a fourth consecutive champion male sprinter honor. The Entourage Stable champ added four of his 23 total black-type victories in 2020: the GIII Vigil S., the GIII Jacques Cartier S., the GIII Bold Venture S., and the Shepperton S. Artie's Princess (We Miss Artie), a homebred for Kenneth and Sarah Ramsey, captured the GII Bessarabian S., the Ruling Angel S., and the champion female sprinter award.

The final equine award given at the Sovereigns is outstanding broodmare, which went to Danceforthecause (Giant's Causeway). The 10-year-old mare has produced two graded winners from two starters, including Grade I winner Say the Word, whose champion male turf horse award would be announced just moments after Danceforthecause's honor. The mare also produced GII Canadian S. winner Rideforthecause (Candy Ride {Arg}), who finished second by a narrow margin in voting for the evening's champion female turf horse award. Danceforthecause was sold by Sam-Son Farm at the Keeneland January sale to Gainesway Farm for $925,000.

Trainer Mark Casse earned his 12th Sovereign Award for outstanding trainer. His trainees won 93 Canadian races in 2020–17 in stakes events–and earned over $5.3 million. Among his runners were aforementioned champions Gretzky the Great and Skywire. Outstanding jockey went to Rafael Hernandez, whose 129 wins in 2020 contributed to his earnings of over $5.4 million. Among his regular mounts were champions Pink Lloyd and Skywire. The Sovereign for apprentice jockey went to Mauricio Malvaez, whose 16 scores topped all apprentices in Canada for 2020. Among his victories was his first black-type win, which took place in the GIII Canadian Derby aboard Real Grace (Mineshaft).

Live Oak Plantation was named outstanding owner with earnings of over $1.1 million. Among Live Oak's best runners of 2020 was champion Souper Escape. Outstanding breeder honors went to Tall Oaks Farm, which led Canadian breeders in purse earnings with $2.2 million. The outstanding groom award went to champion Pink Lloyd's groom Michelle Gibson. She has been a part of Hall of Fame trainer Robert Tiller's operation for almost 10 years.

As had been previously announced, Sam-Son Farm was honored with a special sovereign award. Outstanding photograph went to Will Wong for his work entitled Mambointheforest, which was published on the Ontario Racing website; outstanding writing was awarded to Chris Lomon for “The Pep-Talking Groom, Willy, and a Queen's Plate Crown,” also published on the Ontario Racing website; and Santino di Paola won the outstanding digital audio/visual and broadcast award for his work called Dear Horse Racing, which was published on YouTube by Woodbine.

The post Canadian Horse of the Year Goes to Mighty Heart appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions.

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‘He’s Got A Lot To Prove’: Soup And Sandwich On Florida Derby Menu

Soup and Sandwich will be on the menu for Hall of Fame trainer Mark Casse Saturday at Gulfstream Park.

Live Oak Plantation's undefeated homebred is scheduled to make his stakes debut in the $750,000 Curlin Florida Derby (G1) presented by Hill 'n' Dale Farms, the tradition-rich Triple Crown prep that will headline a 14-race blockbuster card with 10 stakes worth $1.85 million in purses.

Soup and Sandwich enters the Florida Derby with a record of 2-for-2 – like the Casse-trained Helium, who captured the March 6 Tampa Bay Derby (G2) off a pair of victories in two career starts.

“Obviously, he's stepping up in class big time. You just never know until you try,” Casse said. “You just have to go back a few weeks to Helium. Helium was just able to overcome a lot of obstacles because he's a good horse. We feel that Soup and Sandwich is a good horse, but he's got a lot to prove.”

Named by Live Oak Plantation's Charlotte Weber, who is on the Campbell Soup Co.'s board of trustees and is the granddaughter of Campbell Soup founder John Dorrance, Soup and Sandwich graduated at Gulfstream Jan. 28. The son of Into Mischief won the 6 ½-furlong maiden special weight race by 7 ¼ lengths under wraps.

“I never expect that out of a first-time starter – that not usually our M.O.,” Casse said. “We just wanted him to run well. I told Mrs. Weber that I expected him to run well, but did I expect that type of performance? Maybe not.”

Soup and Sandwich came back to win by 2 ¾ lengths in a mile-and-40-yard optional claiming allowance at Tampa Bay Downs Feb. 24.

“He passed that test with flying colors,” Casse said. “We wanted him to rate a little bit, and he did. He accelerated when asked. He ran fast enough and there seemed to be more in the tank. You couldn't have asked for him to run better.”

Casse had expected that Soup and Sandwich would be a promising 2-year-olds.

“I had him last spring. We really liked him. We thought he was one of our best 2-year-olds, but he hurt himself jumping out of the gate when he was getting ready to run,” Casse said. “Mrs. Weber is a very patient lady. We sent him home and gave him plenty of time, and that's being rewarded the way he's come back.”

Soup and Sandwich has been training forwardly since his Tampa Bay Downs score.

“Our thoughts are that he's doing better than ever,” Casse said. “He's learned a lot obviously in a short period of time. He's doing well.”

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Practical Joke Filly Tops OBS March Sale’s Second Session

Hip No. 311, a daughter of Practical Joke consigned by Top Line Sales LLC, Agent, went to Hideyuki Mori for $750,000 to top the second and final session of the Ocala Breeders' Sales Company's 2021 March Sale of 2-Year-Olds in Training.

The bay filly, whose eighth in :9 4/5 was co-fastest at Friday's Under Tack session, is out of champion Valiant Emilia (PER), by Pegasus Wind, from the family of recent Grade 2 Tampa Bay Derby winner Helium.

Hip No. 547, a daughter of American Pharoah whose quarter in :20 4/5 was co-fastest at Saturday's Under Tack session, was sold to Colombo Bloodstock Agency for $600,000. The bay filly, consigned by consigned by Wavertree Stables, Inc., (Ciaran Dunne), Agent, is out of graded stakes-placed stakes winner Henny Jenney, by Henny Hughes, a half-sister to grade one stakes-placed stakes winner Zeewat.

Spendthrift Farm / Myracehorse.com went to $575,000 for Hip No. 357, a son of Kantharos consigned by Woodford Thoroughbreds, Agent. The chestnut colt, whose quarter in :20 2/5 was Friday's co-fastest, is a full-brother to stakes winner Adventurous Lady out of Ari the Adventurer, by Pioneerof the Nile.

Hip No. 295, a daughter of Uncle Mo consigned by Pike Racing, Agent, was sold to Live Oak Plantation for $550,000. The bay filly, who breezed an eighth in :10 1/5 on Friday, is out of Town Tour, by Speightstown, a half-sister to Grade 1 winner Moonshine Memories.

Sean Flanagan paid $550,000 for Hip No. 504, a daughter of American Pharoah consigned by Eddie Woods, Agent. The bay filly, who breezed a quarter in :21 1/5 on Saturday, is out of Forgotten Miss, by Afleet Alex, a half-sister to graded stakes winner Woodlander.

Hip No. 507, American Passport, a son of American Pharoah who breezed an eighth on Saturday in :10 1/5, went to Hideyuki Mori for $550,000. The bay colt, consigned by Coastal Equine LLC (Jesse Hoppel), Agent, is out of French Passport, by Elusive Quality, a half-sister to graded stakes winner Smooth Air.

Hip No. 531, a son of Gormley consigned by Eddie Woods, Agent, went to Breeze Easy LLC for $550,000. The bay colt, whose eighth on Saturday in :9 4/5 was the day's co-fastest, is a half-brother to stakes winner Little Kansas out of Green Eyed Cat, by Tale of the Cat.

High Point Bloodstock paid $475,000 for Hip No. 506, a son of Quality Road consigned by de Meric Sales, Agent. The dark bay or brown colt, a half-brother to stakes winner Curlin's Fox out of graded stakes winner Foxysox (GB), by Foxhound, turned in an Under Tack eighth in :10 1/5 on Saturday.

For the session, 151 horses sold for a total of $19,004,500 compared with 150 grossing $14,355,000 in 2020. The average was $125,858 compared with $95,700 a year ago while the median was $70,000 compared with $50,000 last year. The buyback percentage was 18.8 percent; it was 37.7 percent a year ago.

For the entire sale, 326 horses sold for $38,265,000 compared with 295 bringing $27,349,500 a year ago. The average price was $117,377 compared with $92,710 in 2020 while the median price was $62,500 compared with $50,000 a year ago. The buyback percentage was 16.2 percent; it was 38.8 percent in 2020.

To view the auction's full results, click here.

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The Critical Way Upsets Imprimis In Tampa’s Turf Dash Stakes

Randal Gindi was unsure about The Critical Way's upside after he claimed him for $30,000 at Gulfstream Park in January of 2020.

But the owner's faith in trainer Jose H. Delgado's judgment was rewarded when the 7-year-old gelding held on stubbornly to defeat favored Imprimis by a half-length in Wednesday's 17th running of the $100,000, five-furlong Turf Dash Stakes on the lawn at Tampa Bay Downs in Oldsmar, Fla.

“I give special thanks to Jose,” said Gindi, who flew from Brooklyn, N.Y., to watch The Critical Way post his third career stakes victory, and second in Gindi's Monster Racing Stables colors, in the Turf Dash. “He really believed in the horse, and when he entered him in a stakes (the Marshall Jenney Handicap for Pennsylvania-breds) at Parx (on Sept. 7), he said 'I don't care what the Beyer Figures say. This horse is ready.'

“He wired the field that day from the outside (No. 11) post. I'm very excited about this horse because of his speed and ability to get tactical position,” Gindi said.

Samy Camacho rode The Critical Way, a Pennsylvania-bred son of Tizway out of the Star de Naskra mare Critical Factor. The victory was his seventh from 22 career starts. The winner's time was 55.30 seconds.

Imprimis, a multiple graded-stakes winner with career earnings of more than $820,000, held off third-place finisher The Connector by 1 ¾ lengths, with Turned Aside another neck back in fourth.

The Critical Way earned $45,000 for the victory, raising his career earnings to $334,168.

In Wednesday's other Turf Sprint Showcase Day stakes, the 17th running of the $100,000, five-furlong Lightning City Stakes for older fillies and mares, 5-year-old Florida-bred mare Miss Auramet moved decisively to the lead on the turn and was still moving well at the wire to defeat a charging Ode to Joy by a half-length.

Roberto Alvarado, Jr., rode Miss Auramet, who completed the distance in 55.30 seconds, .21 seconds off the stakes record set last year by Jean Elizabeth. Sethamee Street charged late to be third, with betting favorite Payntdembluesaway, in search of her seventh consecutive victory, finishing fourth.

In the Turf Dash, Camacho was concerned early when he couldn't shake 4-year-old colt Turned Aside in the early going. The two ran head-and-head early through an arduous opening quarter-mile in 20.99 seconds, with the half-mile in 43.54.

“The race was going too fast, and (Jose Ferrer, on Turned Aside) was trying to get in front of me and take my position,” Camacho said. “But (Delgado) told me no matter what, go to the front and don't lose the lead. (On the turn), I asked my horse a little and thought, nobody can catch me.”

Delgado's assistant, Natia Zarzeczny, said positive vibes emanated from the Delgado barn in the days leading to the race, which had been postponed twice due to wet grounds.

But they knew it was no sure thing, as Imprimis had defeated The Critical Way by a neck on Jan. 1 in the Janus Stakes on the turf at Gulfstream, when The Critical Way settled for third.

“I was a little nervous. Actually, a lot nervous,” Zarzeczny said. “But this is our home turf, and we were pumped and ready. Everything just came together. I think the winning attitude helped,” she said.

Miss Auramet, who has won four of her last six starts, captured her first stakes victory in the Lightning City to raise her record to 8-for-19, with five seconds. The daughter of Uncaptured, out of Hello Rosie, by Yes It's True, paid $18 to win.

Edward Plesa, Jr., who trains Miss Auramet for the partnership of David Melin, Leon Ellman and Laurie Plesa, his wife, said Allison De Luca, the Tampa Bay Downs Racing Secretary, was instrumental in his decision to keep Miss Auramet in the race after the two postponements.

“It was disappointing because I was thinking about running her next week (in the Captiva Island Stakes at Gulfstream, which is also 5 furlongs on the turf),” Plesa said from south Florida. “Allison was on top of her business like all good racing secretaries are supposed to be and kept me informed what was happening there with the weather and the turf course.

“If it wasn't for Allison, (Miss Auramet) would not have been in the race,” Plesa said. “That said, I thought she had an excellent chance of winning. The jockey knew her and gave her a perfect ride.”

Plesa won the Lightning City in 2018 with Miz Mayhem, owned by his wife.

Alvarado, who rode Miss Auramet to victory last August at Delaware, let her go after pace-setters Payntdembluesaway and The Goddess Lyssa on the turn for home, and she sped past both swiftly.

“I knew she is a good breaker. There was a lot of speed in the race, but I knew I was going to be close and when she was ready, I just let her roll,” Alvarado said. “Other horses were coming late, but she kept digging in so I wasn't too worried. She's an honest horse who always tries hard, on dirt and turf.”

Plesa said the victory was a welcome tonic for co-owner David Melin, who is currently hospitalized after a fall. “We were able to talk afterward and he is really pleased,” Plesa said.

As a Florida-bred eligible for additional Florida Thoroughbred Breeders' and Owners' Association funds, Miss Auramet earned $60,000 to increase her career earnings to $349,790.

Soup And Sandwich Impressive In Second Start
Mark Casse has been telling folks if a Kentucky Derby horse resides in his barn, it is likely the gray Live Oak Plantation homebred Soup and Sandwich.

The son of Into Mischief, out of the Tapit mare Souper Scoop, did nothing to alter his trainer's opinion in Wednesday's second race.

Taking the lead with a burst of acceleration inside the three-eighths-mile pole, the Florida-bred colt dispatched his competition with relative ease under jockey Antonio Gallardo, scooting away to a 2 ¾-length victory from Foreman. Only three 3-year-olds competed after three late scratches from the allowance/$75,000 optional claiming event.

Casse said Soup and Sandwich, who broke his maiden Jan. 28 at Gulfstream by 7 ¼ lengths, will probably try stakes competition next time, but added that the Grade 2, $400,000 Lambholm South Tampa Bay Derby is likely too quick a turnaround.

“He still has a lot to prove. This was one step, and I have to figure out the next one,” Casse said. “He ran a good number when he broke his maiden and you saw this today, and the thing is he has no clue yet what he's doing. It's just like he made the lead and started swapping leads, and then he jumped the (tire) tracks (in the stretch).

“But Antonio was just saying (in the winner's circle), what a horse. He said they tried to box him in – sometimes a three-horse field is tougher, because everyone can concentrate on one horse – but when the leader went off the rail, Antonio said he went to smooching and it was like hitting the gas on a race car,” Casse added.

Casse said Soup and Sandwich's debut was pushed back because of a minor injury he incurred when popping out of the starting gate last spring. “He's gotten better, but he was a little timid at first about breaking,” Casse said.

Based on Wednesday's race, the conditioner is going to have fun playing catch-up with Soup and Sandwich.

Around the oval. In addition to his Turf Dash victory with The Critical Way, trainer Jose H. Delgado sent out War Giant to win the next race, the eighth, under jockey Jacinto Herrera. War Giant, a 6-year-old gelding, is owned by Carole Star Stables.

Camacho and Antonio Gallardo each rode two winners. Besides winning aboard The Critical Way, Camacho won the sixth race on Strum and Pluck, a 4-year-old gelding owned by Josie Gump and trained by Kathleen O'Connell.

In addition to his victory on Soup and Sandwich, Gallardo won the fourth race on Purple Peopleeater, a 4-year-old filly owned and trained by Donald F. Hunt.

Thoroughbred racing continues Friday with a nine-race card beginning at 12:15 p.m. Tampa Bay Downs currently races on a Wednesday-Friday-Saturday-Sunday schedule. The track is open every day for simulcast wagering, no-limits action and tournament play in The Silks Poker Room and golf fun and instruction at The Downs Golf Practice Facility.

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