Mansetti, his connections top 2025 Sovereign Award finalists
?q=100)
King’s Plate winner Mansetti, along with his jockey, Pietro Moran, and his trainer, Kevin Attard, were among the 2025 Sovereign Award finalists announced by the Jockey Club of Canada on Friday.
Mansetti, who won the Grade 3 Marine and Woodstock Stakes to go along with his memorable King’s Plate score, is a finalist for champion male 3-year-old and a Horse of the Year contender. Joining him in the male sophomore category are Borealis Trail and Take Charge Tom.
Moran, who was voted the 2025 Eclipse Award for outstanding apprentice, is a shoo-in to win for leading apprentice over Austin Adams and Xarel Forde. The 21-year-old also is a finalist for outstanding jockey, along with Sahin Civaci and Woodbine’s leading rider, Rafael Hernandez, who figures to take the coveted award.
Attard, Mark Casse, and Marty Drexler are the outstanding trainer finalists. Attard ended Mark Casse’s remarkable streak of 14 consecutive wins in that category when prevailing in the 2024 vote for the award by a single point.
Attard has a protagonist in two other categories, including 2024 Plate winner Caitlinhergrtness, who’s up for champion older female on the main track, along with Avana, Big Hug, and Ready for Shirl.
Attard-trained Gas Me Up heads the champion male turf horse division, over Argos and the Casse-conditioned My Boy Prince. Gas Me Up also is a finalist for champion male sprinter, along with My Boy Prince and the front-runner Simcoe.
Casse trains two of the three finalists for champion 3-year-old filly – Woodbine Oaks winner No Time and Winterberry. That award could go to the unbeaten Hastings runner Chi Chi Time.
Champion older male on the main track comes down to reigning champion male 3-year-old Dresden Row, Judo, and Swift Delivery.
Champion female sprinter is a toss-up between Gal in a Rush, Little Teddy, and Ms. Tart.
Unbeaten Grade 1 Natalma winner Corsia Veloce has a foothold on champion 2-year-old filly honors, over Dixie Law and Piper’s Gift. Corsia Veloce also is a finalist for champion female turf horse, along with Little Teddy and Ready for Shirl.
Champion male 2-year-old comes down to Grade 1 Summer victor Argos, Casson, and Two Out Hero.
Chiefswood Stables Limited is a finalist for outstanding owner and breeder. Joining Chiefswood in the owner category are Bruno Schickedanz and Mansetti’s Al and Bill Ulwelling. Also up for outstanding breeder are Anderson Farms Ont. Inc. and Frank DiGiulio Jr.
Aurora Lights, Dixie Chicken, and Gladiator Queen are the outstanding broodmare finalists.
The winner of each category, along with the 2025 Horse of the Year, will be announced at the 51st annual Sovereign Awards ceremony on April 23 at the Paramount Eventspace in the Toronto suburb of Woodbridge.
The 2025 media award finalists will be announced in near future, along with the winners for outstanding groom, offtrack worker, and Western Canadian backstretch worker.
:: Want to learn more about handicapping and wagering? Check out DRF's Handicapping 101 and Wagering 101 pages.