Pink Lloyd, Ami's Mesa expected to contend for Canadian Horse of the Year

ETOBICOKE, Ontario – Canada’s Horse of the Year for 2017 will be named Thursday at the 43rd annual Sovereign Awards ceremony at the Palais Royale in Toronto.

While the Jockey Club of Canada named the Sovereign Award finalists in each division in February, the finalists for Canadian Horse of the Year will be revealed at the awards ceremony Thursday night. Among the horses expected to contend for Horse of the Year honors are Pink Lloyd and Ami’s Mesa.

Pink Lloyd went unbeaten in eight sprint stakes last season at Woodbine for trainer Robert Tiller and owner Entourage Stable, including a pair of graded stakes victories in the Grade 3 Vigil and the Grade 2 Kennedy Road. Pink Lloyd also is a finalist in the male sprinter and older male divisions.

Ami’s Mesa, meanwhile, was a nose from being unbeaten in six starts last year when second in the Grade 1 Breeders’ Cup Filly and Mare Sprint at Del Mar last November. She recorded three graded stakes wins last season in the Grade 3 Ontario Matron, Grade 3 Seaway, and Grade 2 Presque Isle Downs Masters. Ami’s Mesa was named a finalist in the female sprinter and older female divisions.

A number of Ami’s Mesa’s connections also have been nominated for Sovereign Awards in their respective divisions, including trainer Josie Carroll, jockey Luis Contreras, owner Ivan Dalos, breeder Tall Oaks Farm, and broodmare Victorious Ami.

A Carroll trainee is sure to be named champion older female, as all three finalists hail from her barn. In addition to Ami’s Mesa, Grade 3 Maple Leaf winner Gamble’s Ghost and Grade 2 Bessarabian winner Moonlit Promise also have been named finalists in that division. Moonlit Promise also is a finalist in the female sprint division, along with Grade 3 Royal North Stakes winner Jennifer Lynnette.

Joining Pink Lloyd as finalists in the older male division are three-time graded stakes winner Melmich and Grade 3 Valedictory winner Gigantic Breeze, while Grade 3 Bold Venture winner Ikerrin Road and Queenston Stakes winner Yorkton are finalists in the male sprinter division.

Queen’s Plate winner Holy Helena is a finalist in the 3-year-old filly division, along with Daz Lin Dawn, Enstone, and Inflexibility. Enstone and Inflexibility also have been named finalists in the female turf division, along with multiple graded-stakes winner Starship Jubilee.

Queen’s Plate runner-up and Ontario Derby winner Tiz a Slam has been named a finalist in the 3-year-old male division, along with Breeders’ Stakes winner Channel Maker and Bunty Lawless Stakes winner Mr Havercamp. Channel Maker also is nominated in the male turf division, along with Grade 1 Northern Dancer Turf winner Johnny Bear and Grade 2 Connaught Cup winner Tower of Texas.

In the juvenile divisions, Grade 2 Demoiselle winner Wonder Gadot is nominated for champion 2-year-old filly, along with Grade 3 Schuylerville winner Dream It Is and Ontario Lassie winner Dixie Moon. Finalists for 2-year-old male include Display Stakes winner Admiralty Pier, Grade 3 Grey Stakes winner Archaggelos, and Frost King Stakes winner Be Vewy Vewy Quiet.

Mark Casse will look to win his 10th Sovereign Award as outstanding trainer. Norm McKnight, Woodbine’s leading trainer in 2017, also is a finalist, along with Carroll and Catherine Day Phillips.

Jockey Eurico Da Silva could earn his third consecutive outstanding jockey award and is nominated with Contreras and Rico Walcott.

Awards also will be given out for outstanding apprentice jockey, outstanding owner, outstanding breeder, and outstanding broodmare.

Along with the horse awards, three Sovereign Awards in media categories will be awarded Thursday night, including writing, photograph, and digital audio/visual and broadcast.

In addition, the Jockey Club of Canada also will give out Sovereign Awards to groom Alfredo Ramos and handicapper Michael Eisen. A special Sovereign Award, recognizing significant contributions to the horse racing industry in Canada, will be awarded to owner Sam Lima.

Sovereign Award Finalists

Champion 2-year-old filly: Dixie Moon, Dream It Is, Wonder Gadot

Champion 2-year-old male: Admiralty Pier, Archaggelos, Be Vewy Vewy Quiet

Champion 3-year-old female: Daz Lin Dawn, Enstone, Holy Helena, Inflexibility

Champion 3-year-old male: Channel Maker, Mr Havercamp, Tiz a Slam

Champion older female: Ami’s Mesa, Moonlit Promise, Gamble’s Ghost

Champion older male: Gigantic Breeze, Melmich, Pink Lloyd

Champion female turf horse: Enstone, Inflexibility, Starship Jubilee

Champion male turf horse: Channel Maker, Johnny Bear, Tower of Texas

Champion female sprinter: Ami’s Mesa, Jennifer Lynnette, Moonlit Promise

Champion male sprinter: Ikerrin Road, Pink Lloyd, Yorkton

Outstanding broodmare: Keen Victory, Loving Vindication, Miss Crissy, Victorious Ami

Outstanding breeder: Adena Springs, Anderson Farms Ontario Inc., Tall Oaks Farm

Outstanding owner: Chiefswood Stable, Ivan Dalos, Stronach Stables

Outstanding trainer: Josie Carroll, Mark Casse, Catherine Day Phillips, Norm McKnight

Outstanding apprentice jockey: Ridge Balgobin, Brandon Duchaine, Rey Williams

Outstanding jockey: Luis Contreras, Eurico Da Silva, Rico Walcott

Writing category: Tom Ferry, Perry Lefko, Emily Shields

Digitial audio/visual and broadcast category: Canadian Horse Racing Hall of Fame/Standardbred Canada/ Woodbine Entertainment, Horse Racing Alberta, Talkin’ Horse Racing

Photograph category: Jeffrey Bowen, Dave Landry, Alex Urosivic

Groom: Alfredo Ramos

Handicapper: Michael Eisen

Special Sovereign Award: Sam Lima