Mighty Heart, Pink Lloyd top 2021 Sovereign Award finalists
ETOBICOKE, Ontario – Reigning Canadian Horse of the Year Mighty Heart and perennial champion sprinter Pink Lloyd are among the 2021 Sovereign Award finalists announced by The Jockey Club of Canada.
The one-eyed Mighty Heart, who won two legs of the 2020 Canadian Triple Crown, had another satisfying season last year, winning 3 of 8 starts, including the Grade 2 Autumn and Grade 3 Dominion Day.
Mighty Heart is a finalist for champion older male on the main track, along with 2019 Belmont Stakes winner Sir Winston and Pink Lloyd, who also is a finalist for champion male sprinter. Pink Lloyd has been crowned champion male sprinter in each of the past four years and is expected to win the award again over Souper Stonehenge and Avie’s Flatter.
Grade 2 Nearctic winner Avie’s Flatter also is a finalist for male turf runner, along with Grade 1 Highlander victor Silent Poet and likely winner Town Cruise, who wired a good field in the Grade 1 Woodbine Mile.
Amalfi Coast was a Sovereign Award finalist in three categories in 2019 without winning a title. For 2021, she’s the front-runner for champion female sprinter and also is up for champion older female on the main track and champion female turf horse.
Joining Amalfi Coast in the female sprinter division are Lorena and Our Secret Agent. The other finalists for champion older female on the main track are Infinite Patience and the probable winner Skygaze. In a wide-open division, Jolie Olimpica and Our Flash Drive also are up for female turf horse honors.
Woodbine Oaks winner Munnyfor Ro is expected to get the nod for champion 3-year-old filly over Our Flash Drive and Lorena. Frosted Over figures to be champion male 3-year-old over Artie’s Storm, Haddassah and Uncharacteristic. Queen’s Plate runner-up Riptide Rock was not among the finalists, and Queen’s Plate winner Safe Conduct was not eligible to receive a Sovereign Award, having started only twice in Canada. To be eligible, horses who are 3 years old or older must have made three starts in Canada during the year.
The finalists for champion male 2-year-old are God of Love, Grafton Street, and Ironstone. The champion 2-year-old filly will come from among Diabolic, Moira, and Mrs. Barbara. Expect the Mark Casse trainees God of Love and Mrs. Barbara to prevail.
Casse should be outstanding trainer for the 15th time, over with Kevin Attard and Josie Carroll.
Outstanding owner comes down to Gary Barber, Godolphin, and 2020 winner Live Oak Plantation.
Woodbine’s leading rider Kazushi Kimura is the front-runner for outstanding jockey over Rafael Hernandez, Patrick Husbands, and Justin Stein.
The outstanding apprentice jockey finalists are Michael David, Edgar Zenteno, and Mauricio Malvaez, who won it last year.
Outstanding breeder will come from among Adena Springs, Sam-Son Farm, and Tall Oaks Farm.
Outstanding broodmare, a lifetime award with some representation required for 2021, is a toss-up among Avie’s Empire, Include Katherine, and Sunday Affair.
The Horse of the Year finalists will be announced at the end of the 47th annual Sovereign Awards ceremony on April 14 at the Universal Eventspace in Vaughan, Ontario.
The 2021 media awards finalists, the winner for outstanding groom, and the 2021 E.P. Taylor Award and Special Sovereign Award winners will be announced by Feb. 15.