2019 Sovereign Awards finalists announced

ETOBICOKE, Ontario - Pink Lloyd, Global Access, Amalfi Coast, and Here’s Hannah are all finalists in multiple categories in the 2019 Sovereign Awards voting. The 45th annual Sovereign Awards ceremony will be held April 16 at the Universal Eventspace in Vaughan, Ontario.

Canada’s Horse of the Year in 2017, Pink Lloyd is favored to become the champion male sprinter for the third year in a row, over Silent Poet and Yorkton. Unbeaten in six stakes starts last year, Pink Lloyd is also a finalist in the older male main-track category, along with Mr Ritz and Special Forces.

Global Access, a three-time Grade 3 winner last year, is up against Tone Broke and Explode for champion male 3-year-old honors. In the male turf horse category, he’s a longshot behind Grade 1 Woodbine Mile victor El Tormenta and Grade 2 winner Tiz a Slam.

Amalfi Coast is a finalist in three categories, including champion 3-year-old filly, along with Desert Ride and Hidden Grace, and champion female grass horse, against Holy Helena and Grade 1 E.P. Taylor winner Starship Jubilee.

A tie in the voting led to four finalists for champion female sprinter: Amalfi Coast, Here’s Hannah, Sister Peacock, and Summer Sunday.

Here’s Hannah is also up for champion older female honors on the main track, along with Lift Up and She’s the Berries.

The male 2-year-old finalists are Dotted Line, Mr. Hustle, and Muskoka Gold. The 2-year-old filly category consists of Curlin’s Voyage, Infinite Patience, and Owlette.
Outstanding broodmare should be close between Cumulonimble and Loving Vindication. Avie’s Empire is the other finalist.

Chiefswood Stables Limited and Sam-Son Farm are finalists for both outstanding owner and breeder. Stronach Stables rounds out the owners, and Tall Oaks Farm completes the breeder category.

The outstanding trainer finalists are Kevin Attard, Mark Casse, and Norm McKnight.

The retired Eurico Da Silva heads the jockey category, over Rafael Hernandez and Patrick Husbands.

Kazushi Kimura, who captured the 2019 Eclipse Award for top apprentice, should be a unanimous winner for outstanding apprentice, over Shavon Belle and Daisuke Fukumoto.

The Horse of the Year finalists will be announced at Sovereign Awards ceremony. The obvious Horse of the Year contenders are El Tormenta, Starship Jubilee, and Pink Lloyd.

Charles Fipke will be presented with the E.P. Taylor Award of Merit, and Harvey Warner will receive the Special Sovereign Award in recognition of their contributions to the Thoroughbred industry in Canada.

The finalists in the three media categories, and the outstanding groom will be announced by Feb. 15.