Sovereign Award Finalists Announced

The finalists for Canada’s Sovereign Awards, which include 11 horse and five human categories, were announced yesterday by The Jockey Club of Canada. The Horse of the Year finalists and the winners in all categories will be announced at the 40th annual Sovereign Awards Party Apr. 10 at Woodbine Racetrack. 

It came as no surprise that the winners of each of the three legs of the Canadian Triple Crown earned a chance at a Sovereign Award. Queens Plate heroine Lexie Lou (Sligo Bay {Ire}), who finished second to dual Classic winner California Chrome (Lucky Pulpit) in Del Mar’s GI Hollywood Derby, made the top four in both the 3-year-old filly and female turf horse categories. 

Coltimus Prime (Milwaukee Brew), winner of the Prince of Wales S., and Ami’s Holiday (Harlan’s Holiday), victor of the Breeders’ S., earned top spots in the sophomore male division. However, they face stiff competition in that category from Heart to Heart (English Channel), winner of the GIII Jefferson Cup S. and GIII Commonwealth Turf S. at Churchill Downs, who is also a finalist in the turf male division. 

In addition to securing a top spot in the outstanding owner category, Conquest Stables is represented by MSW Conquest Tsunami (Stormy Atlantic) and GII Summer S. hero Conquest Typhoon (Stormy Atlantic) in the 2-year-old male category, as well as MGSW Conquest Harlanate (Harlan’s Holiday) in the juvenile fillies category. 

Spring in the Air (Spring At Last), who earned the Sovereign Award for champion juvenile filly in 2012, has a chance to bring home two more this year for outstanding owner finalist John Oxley and outstanding trainer finalist Mark Casse. The bay made the final cut in both the older female and female sprinter categories thanks to a win in the GIII Hendrie S. and placings in the GIII Whimsical S. and GIII Seway S. 

Gary Barber and Sam-Son Farm round out the owner category, while Josie Carroll, Brian Lynch and Greg Tracy oppose Casse in the outstanding trainer division. Adena Springs looks to add another line to their long list of wins in the outstanding breeder category, and will be challenged by Sam-Son Farm, who also boasts multiple wins in this category, William Sorokolit and Paradox Farm.