Wonder Gadot poised for Sovereign Award glory

ETOBICOKE, Ontario – Wonder Gadot, who defeated males to win the first two legs of the Canadian Triple Crown in 2018, could be in for a big night at Thursday’s 44th annual Sovereign Awards ceremony, which will recognize last season’s outstanding achievements in Canadian racing.

Wonder Gadot’s victories in the Queen’s Plate and Prince of Wales Stakes were the only two wins of her 11-race campaign in 2018. She finished second in the Grade 1 Kentucky Oaks, Woodbine Oaks, Grade 3 Fantasy Stakes, and Silverbulletday Stakes. She was named a finalist in the 3-year-old female division and should be among the finalists for Canadian Horse of the Year, which will be revealed during the ceremony.

Wonder Gadot’s trainer, Mark Casse, will be searching for his eighth consecutive outstanding trainer award, and 11th overall, in what will be one of the more interesting races of the night. Casse finished the Woodbine meet with 105 victories, second to Norm McKnight, who broke Casse’s single-meet record last year with 128 wins. However, Casse won 21 stakes at Woodbine last season, with McKnight recording seven stakes wins, and that could give Casse an edge with voters.

Casse has three other horses nominated for awards, including War of Will in the 2-year-old male division, and Lookin to Strike and Breeders’ Stakes winner Neepawa in the 3-year-old male division.

Other horses likely to get Horse of the Year consideration include 2017 Horse of the Year Pink Lloyd, who won five stakes last season including the Grade 3 Vigil Stakes, and Mr Havercamp, who won a pair of Grade 2 events last season and ran second to Oscar Performance in the Grade 1 Woodbine Mile.

A pair of horses based in Western Canada have big shots to take home awards. Escape Clause, who was second in Sunday’s Grade 1 Apple Blossom at Oaklawn Park, went undefeated in seven starts in Canada last season and is a finalist in the older female division along with Gamble’s Ghost and Starship Jubilee. Sky Promise, who won the Manitoba Derby, the Grade 3 Canadian Derby, and the Grade 3 British Columbia Derby, is a finalist in the 3-year-old male division.

The E. P. Taylor Award of Merit will be given to both Gustav Schickedanz and the late William Graham for their lifelong dedication and outstanding contribution to the Thoroughbred racing and breeding industry in Canada.

Amanda Erwin, who has worked for trainer Mike Keogh for 17 years, has been chosen as the recipient of the 2018 outstanding groom award, while Nick Noce, a native of Rochester, N.Y., and Woodbine’s 2018 horseplayer of the year, will be presented with a Sovereign Award for outstanding handicapper.

Sovereign Award finalists

2-year-old filly: Bold Script, My Gal Betty, Tiz Breathtaking

2-year-old male: Avie’s Flatter, Solidify, War of Will

3-year-old female: Dixie Moon, Here’s Hannah, Wonder Gadot

3-year-old male: Lookin to Strike, Neepawa, Sky Promise

Older female: Escape Clause, Gamble’s Ghost, Starship Jubilee

Older male: Mr Havercamp, Pink Lloyd, Tiz a Slam

Female turf horse: Dixie Moon, Niigon’s Eclipse, Starship Jubilee

Male turf horse: Johnny Bear, Mr Havercamp, Tiz a Slam

Female sprinter: Code Warrior, Escape Clause, Moonlit Promise

Male sprinter: Ikerrin Road, Pink Lloyd, Yorkton

Outstanding broodmare: Avie’s Empire, In Return, Loving Vindication

Outstanding breeder: Adena Springs, Chiefswood Stables Limited, Tall Oaks Farm

Outstanding owner: Gary Barber, Chiefswood Stable, Ivan Dalos

Outstanding trainer: Kevin Attard, Mark Casse, Norman McKnight

Outstanding apprentice jockey: Daisuke Fukumoto, Kazushi Kimura, Lenny Seecharan

Outstanding jockey: Luis Contreras, Eurico Da Silva, Rafael Hernandez

Outstanding writing: Dave Briggs, Chris Lomon, Hayley Morrison

Outstanding audio/visual and broadcast: Horse Racing Alberta, Horse Racing Radio Network, Woodbine Entertainment Group

Outstanding photograph: Santino Di Paola, Hayley Morrison, John Watkins

Outstanding groom: Amanda Erwin

Outstanding handicapper: Nick Noce

E. P. Taylor Award of Merit: Gustav Schickedanz & William Graham