Wonder Gadot among standout finalists for Sovereign Awards

Kentucky Oaks runner-up Wonder Gadot heads the list of Sovereign Award finalists for the 2018 Canadian champions that was released by the Jockey Club of Canada on Friday.

Wonder Gadot, the durable Queen’s Plate and Prince of Wales Stakes winner, is a standout finalist for champion 3-year-old filly over Woodbine Oaks winner Dixie Moon and Here’s Hannah.

Dixie Moon also is a finalist for champion female grass runner, an award that’s expected to go to last year’s winner, Starship Jubilee. Niigon’s Eclipse rounds out the category.

Starship Jubilee also is part of a strong trio in the champion older female category, along with the Western Canada standout Escape Clause and multiple Grade 3 winner Gamble’s Ghost.

Escape Clause is a longer shot for champion female sprinter honors. The other finalists are triple stakes winner Code Warrior, and Grade 2 winner Moonlit Promise, who appears to be the front-runner.

Grade 1 Northern Dancer Turf victor Johnny Bear has a chance to be champion male turf horse for the second year in a row. Woodbine Mile runner-up Mr Havercamp and Tiz a Slam round out the category.

Mr. Havercamp and Tiz A Slam also are finalists for champion older male, along with last year’s popular winner, Pink Lloyd.

Reigning Canadian Horse of the Year Pink Lloyd is a shoo-in to garner champion sprinter honors for the second year in a row. Rounding out the group are Yorkton and Ikerrin Road.

The champion 3-year-old male finalists are Sky Promise, Neepawa, and Lookin to Strike.

The champion 2-year-old male finalists are Avie’s Flatter, Solidify, and War of Will. The champion 2-year-old filly group consists of Bold Script, My Gal Betty, and Tiz Breathtaking.

The outstanding broodmare finalists are Avie’s Empire, In Return, and Loving Vindication.

Chiefswood Stable is a finalist for outstanding breeder and owner. Gary Barber and Ivan Dalos round out the owner category. Adena Springs and Dalos’s Tall Oaks Farm complete the breeder category.

Kevin Attard, Norm McKnight, and perennial winner Mark Casse are the trainer finalists.

Woodbine’s leading rider, Eurico Da Silva, is expected to be named outstanding jockey over Luis Contreras and Rafael Hernandez.

Kazushi Kimura heads the outstanding apprentice jockey category, which also consists of Daisuke Fukumoto and Lenny Seecharan.

The finalists for Horse of the Year will be announced during the 44th annual Sovereign Awards ceremony on April 18 at the Chateau Le Jardin in Woodbridge, Ontario.