Some western ladies deserve serious consideration from voters when the ballots go out for the 51st SOVEREIGN AWARDS early next month, which, of course, is early 2026.
With many of the horse divisions lacking in star power in Ontario this past year, any number of western Canadian horses could gain votes, but in particular these three fillies and mares should, at the very least, end up as finalists in their categories.
BIG HUG, a five-year-old mare who has been a Horse of the Year in BC (2024) and Champion three-year-old filly (2023) had another sterling season in 2025 for owners Empire Equestrian and Kerredge Farm. Trained by Rick Hedge (Kerredge Farm), the Alberta-bred won four stakes at Century Mile and Century Downs and was second in her only other outing. The daughter of Mr. Big won the Red Smith, R McKenzie, Distaff and Fall Classic Distaff, the latter by 12 1/2 lengths with an 85 Beyer Speed Figure.
Just as impressively, Big Hug had a respectable stint in California early in 2025, competing in five graded stakes races. The dark bay was third in the Grade 3 La Canada and third in the Grade 3 Wilshire, on turf. She earned an 88 Beyer Figure in that aforementioned outing.
Bred by Chalet Stable of Paul Luft, Big Hug qualifies for Champion Older Female main track, Female Sprinter and even Turf Female in Canada.
Big Hug was a finalist for a Sovereign Award in 2024 for Champion Older Mare Main Track.
Kentucky-bred TAKE CHARGE TOM should make it close in the voting for Champion three-year-old male at the Sovereign Awards. The Randy Howg-owned son of Tom’s D’Etat won the Manitoba Derby (only to be disqualified) and Canadian Derby, the Mine That Bird Derby at Sunland, the Riley Allison Derby at Sunland and the Derby Trial at Assiniboia Downs. Trained by Robertino Diadoro, Take Charge Tom’s four-for-eight record earned him $340,755. He was eased in his finale of 2025, the Grade 3 Oklahoma Derby, but was reported to be fine post-race.
AVANA, a finalist for Champion three-year-old Filly in Canada in 2024, was amazing again in 2025 for owner Peter Redekop and trainer Barbara Heads. The BC-bred by Vino Rosso won five of seven starts including the Delta Colleen, BC Cup Distaff, Northlands Distaff and Monashee Stakes. She was also second in two other stakes races. She won the Monashee in a time of 1:42.53 for 1 1/16 miles, just one-fifth off the track record. Bred by Bryan and Carol Anderson, Avana was recently sold by Redekop to Cedar Lake Farm.
CHI CHI TIME was brilliant in her four races in 2025 at Hastings and who knows what her record would have been had the three-year-old filly not been scratched due to misbehaviour. The daughter of Finality, who did not race as a juvenile, won her debut by 12 lengths in 1:15.13 for 6 1/2 furlongs and then won three stakes races by a combined 16 3/4 lengths. Trained by Pat Jarvis, Chi Chi Time won the River Rock Casino Stakes. the Hong Kong Jockey Club and CTHS Sales Stakes. She was odds-on for the BC Oaks, but reared up in the gate and had to be scratched.
Chi Chi Time, bred and owned by Gladys and Karen Dittloff, is eligible for Champion three-year-old filly in Canada and Female Sprinter.
RONDELITO was one of the best three-year-old colts or geldings in 2025, as he won five of seven starts including the Grade 3 BC Derby, the Sir Winston Churchill, Chris Loseth and R McLeod Stakes. While he has to go against King’s Plate winner Mansetti and Take Charge Tom, Rondelito is also eligible for Male Sprinter. Lorie Henson owns the BC-bred son of Lent.
Other top western Canadian runners in 2025 that should merit votes include the two-year-old BC colt DEBRUSK, who won three straights stakes races after finishing second in a stakes race first time, and Alberta-bred RELAXGODOITRAMONE, also a three-time stakes winner.
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