The Sovereign Awards

Dateline: 12/15/00

The 26th annual Sovereign Awards, Canadian thoroughbred racing's equivalent of the Eclipse Awards, were handed out on Friday night December 15th at the Four Seasons Hotel in Toronto. The event might well have been called "Sam-Son Farms Night," as the stable founded by the late Ernie Samuel took

Quiet Resolve, Horse of the Year winner.

home five of the 21 trophies awarded, six if you include Mark Frostad's award for champion trainer. Samuel died on May 25th of this year, but his farm went on to have one of its best years ever under the direction of his widow Liza Samuel and his daughter Tammy Samuel-Balaz. Their 2000 season was capped off by Quiet Resolve's close second place finish in the Breeders' Cup Turf. The effort earned him Horse of the Year honours to go along with Champion Male Turf Horse. Co-owner Tammy Samuel-Balaz said "He is a gelding and it is usually the stallions that get all the attention, but he has it all. He has got so much heart. He's going to keep racing as long as he is healthy."

Mark Frostad, Liza Samuel, and Tammy Samual-Balaz beside the master trophy which is on permanent display in the Canadian Horse Racing Hall of Fame

Sam-Son Farms took home awards for Outstanding Owner, Outstanding Breeder, Horse of the Year (Quiet Resolve), Champion Male Turf Horse (Quiet Resolve), and Champion Three-Year-Old Filly (Catch the Ring). In addition, Mark Frostad who is their private trainer was named Outstanding Trainer. As of early November, Sam-Son homebreds earned over $4.5 million this year, including the efforts of stakes winners Dancethruthedawn, Catch The Ring, Think Red, Sky Alliance, Scatter the Gold (who was attempting to win the Triple Crown), and of course Quiet Resolve. Liza Samuel joked: "I agree that he's [Ernie Samuel] an outstanding breeder. Look at Tammy!" While Tammy Samuel-Balaz said: "We will continue to do our best and make Canada proud, and make Dad proud."

Catch the Ring, Champion Three-Year-Old Filly

Catch the Ring was without question the top three year old filly in Canada, winning at Keeneland in the spring before coming home to take the Canadian Oaks and the Bison City. Her hopes for a Canadian Triple Tiara were dashed when she was upset by stablemate Misty Mission in the Wonder Where. She finished the season with over $600,000 in earnings. Tammy Samuel-Balaz: "We're very proud of Catch The Ring. Her dam, Radiant Ring, was hugely exciting for us and Catch The Ring started an incredible racing year in a very sad emotional year for us, winning the Oaks just after Dad had died. We absolutely felt he was there that day and with us all year."

Bruce Schickedanz accepts the Sovereign for One Way Love, Champion Older Male and Champion Sprinter

The other multiple winner for the evening was Bruno Schickedanz. He took home two awards for his horse One Way Love, who was crowned the champion sprinter and champion older male. He said: "I'd like to thank my family who put up with me while I pursue the world's most exciting sport." One Way Love was picked up in a claim during his 2-year-old season for $50,000, and has gone on to be the best sprinter in the country, winning the Shepperton, Vigil, Bold Venture, and Overskate, and shipping south to finish third in the Vosburgh at Belmont and losing the Forego at Saratoga by two lengths. He earned this Sovereign with his six Woodbine stakes wins for trainer Abraham Katryan, mostly in sprints but also the Steady Growth at 1 1/16 miles. The year ended with a win in the Autumn Handicap, increasing his career earnings to $1.1 million.

Kiss A Native, Champion Three-Year-Old Male

The Florida-bred gelding Kiss A Native was Sovereign eligible by virtue of his four starts, 3 of them wins, at Woodbine. On Queen's Plate day he won the Charlie Barley Handicap, then shipped south to finish third in the Ohio Derby, before returning to win the Col. R.S. McLaughlin Stakes and Durham Cup Handicap. After those efforts he shipped to the Meadowlands to win the Grade 2 Pegasus Handicap, duplicating his sire Kissin Kris' win in the same race. Trainer David Bell said: We know he's [owner John Franks] going to be ecstatic. He loves this trophy and he loves Canadian racing. He's a big supporter of racing here, and I'm glad I could give him one more trophy.

Heliotrope, Champion Female Turf Horse

Early in 1999, Heliotrope developed a tendon problem and was to be retired to broodmare duty for the 2000 season. However, the tendon healed and her owners decided to bring her back to the track instead. The gamble paid off with wins in the Nassau Stakes at odds of 27-1 and a third in the Dance Smartly Handicap, earning $282,306 this year. Co-owner Richard Shaw said: "Heliotrope means a small purple flower, or a rosy, purple color, and in Greek it means one who loves the sun or has a sunny disposition. None of these describe this filly nicknamed Chopper."

Saoirse, Champion Older Female. Her name is Celtic and is pronounced Seer-sha.

In her Sovereign Award winning campaign, the four year old filly Saoirse won the La Voyageuse and George C. Hendrie Handicaps at Woodbine and the Chicago Breeders' Cup Handicap at Arlington. Original owner Steve Stavro had to sell his racing stock due to financial troubles and Saorise was sold to David Mullins and partners in September of this year. Co-owner David Mullins said: "Because she's [Saoirse] sunning herself in warm Florida, she sends her regrets, and we proudly accept this Sovereign Award on her behalf."

Owner David Willmot accepts the Sovereign for his two-year-old filly Poetically.

Poetically was the winner of the Champion Two-Year-Old Filly Sovereign. The Roger Attfield trainee surged into contention for this award, capturing the Ontario Debutante, Glorious Song, and Ontario Lassie, winning four of six starts and earning in excess of $330,000 for owner Kinghaven Farms. Her half-sister Primaly was third in the 1997 Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies, and half-brother Whiskey Wisdom finished third but was disqualified to fourth in that year's Classic.

Poetically's dam Primarily was the winner of the Outstanding Broodmare Sovereign. Poetically was her third stakes winner from only six foals of racing age. The daughter of Lord At War's progeny have earned more than $1.1 million. The Stronach representative who accepted the award said her 2000 foal by Storm Cat is "absolutely beautiful" and she is set to produce her first foal by Coronado's Quest next year.

Highland Legacy won three consecutive stakes wins at year's end including a victory over the undefeated Ten Flat in the Swynford to easily capture the Champion Two-Year-Old Colt or Gelding Sovereign. His breeding indicated speed, yet his connections supplemented him for $5000 into the 1 1/8 mile Coronation Futurity. Needless to say he won it convincingly. He was in the money six out of seven starts and earned $369,932.

David Landry accepting the Outstanding Photograph award.

The media awards began with photographer David Landry winning for Outstanding Photograph for a shot of Strike Smartly in an allowance race while last on the clubhouse turn before starting his winning move. In a previous interview, Landry explained about the photo, "What pleased me was that Strike Smartly went from last to first to win." The shot appeared in Canadian Thoroughbred in the Queen's Plate edition.

Curtis Stock won for Outstanding Newspaper Story but was not present so presenter Louis Cauz accepted for him. "The main reason he's not here tonight is, he's attempting to save horse racing in Alberta." He has written for the Edmonton Journal for the past 15 years. The winning article deals with Red Exit, a longshot in this year's Canadian Derby at Northlands Park in Edmonton.

Paradox Pictures Inc. representatives accepting the Outstanding Film/Video/Broadcast award.

Paradox Pictures won the Outstanding Film/Video/Broadcast award for their feature "Maiden Dreams". Paradox Pictures Inc's Rob Lindsay said "I'd like to thank my wife who always wondered where I was going at 5 o'clock in the morning. I told you I was going to the track!" The documentary, which aired on CBC television before the 1999 Breeders' Cup, followed traner Mike DePaulo to show the viewer what it takes to get a horse to the races. The crew also spent 60 hours in a broodmare barn at Frank Stronach's Adena Springs North to capture the foaling of a horse.

George Williams took the Outstanding Feature Story with his article "Everything I needed to know about life I learned from horse racing." He said: "I'd like to thank Canadian Thoroughbred [magazine] for letting me write this type of story, which didn't go over too well with some, but quite well with others. If I could dedicate this to anyone, it'd be the horses, so take care of them." The winning article deals with his life as a hotwalker, groom, trainer, handicapper, and DRF chartcaller, and gives details on trainers he worked for including greats Charlie Whittingham and Woody Stephens.

Patrick Husbands toasts his victory as Outstanding Jockey.

Jockey Patrick Husbands shattered his own records set last year for earnings and wins to take the Outstanding Jockey award. In 2000 he won 182 races with $8.2 million in earnings, including six stakes wins aboard One Way Love. He is also remembered for his defeat by the slimmest of margins aboard Williams News in the Canadian International this year.

Cory Clark got an early Christmas present with her Outstanding Apprentice Jockey Sovereign.

22-year-old apprentice jockey Cory Clark led the riders' list at Fort Erie in 2000 enroute to winning the Outstanding Apprentice Jockey Sovereign. She won 82 races and was in the money in 214 out of 380 mounts as an apprentice then added 51 more wins by mid November. Her father, jockey David Clark, was the Sovereign award winner for top jockey in 1998. Her win total of 133 exceeded his this year.

The Honourable Michael D. Harris, Premier of Ontario was the E.P. Taylor Award of Merit winner. Michael Byrne of the Jockey Club of Canada said of the Premier, that his actions "have insured the continuing success of the agriculturally-based, labour intensive, traditional, business of breeding and racing in this province. This jurisdiction is now, not only the envy of North America, but is becoming a model for the rest of the world." Accepting the award for Harris was Management Board Chairman Chris Hodgson.

Sovereign Award Point Totals

Horse of the Year             Sprinter               
Quiet Resolve       159       One Way Love        211
One Way Love        137       Wake At Noon        122
Kiss A Native        36       Saoirse              48

2-Year-Old Filly              2-Year-Old Colt/Gelding
Poetically          123       Highland Legacy     234
Dancethruthedawn    115       San Mont Andreas     41
Sky Alliance         93       Fancy As             39

3-Year-Old Filly              3-Year-Old Colt/Gelding
Catch the Ring      224       Kiss A Native       145
Heat It Up           73       Scatter the Gold    118
Make Contact         33       Milwaukee Brew       97

Older Female                  Older Male             
Saoirse             176       One Way Love        233
Gandria             165       Code Name Fred       97
Barlee Mist          47       American Justice     26

Turf Female                   Turf Male              
Heliotrope          165       Quiet Resolve       244
Sky Alliance         83       River Boat           72
Free Vacation        55       Muntej               47

Jockey                        Apprentice Jockey      
Patrick Husbands    232       Cory Clark          240
Todd Kabel          103       Monique Dionne       88
David Clark          41       Jeff Burningham      56

Trainer                       Owner                  
Mark Frostad        180       Sam-Son Farm        172
Abraham Katryan      85       Bruno Schickedanz   116
David Bell           73       Stronach Stables    105

Breeder                       Broodmare              
Sam-Son Farm        234       Primarily           130
Stronach Stables     98       First Class Gal     126
Kinghaven Farm       60       Sweet Briar Too      53

Photos by Terence Dulay and Cindy Pierson

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