Despite cutting back the size of their operation in recent years, the scarlet and gold Sam-Son silks remain a prominent fixture on the Woodbine racing scene under the guidance of trainer Mark Frostad. “This really is a family affair and what an incredible legacy it is,’ said Rick Balaz, Sam-Son Farms” President and General Manager. “To be able to carry this on and be honoured with Owner of the Year is quite amazing. Especially the last few years have been very tough, we had a lot of changes, a significantly smaller number of horses and to be able to achieve the kind of results we have with a shrunk-down version of Sam-Son Farms is a testament to the type of people we have – from the trainer right down to the people working on our farm. Believe me it’s hard work. It starts out with great horses but it really is hard work to get these kind of results.”
A powerful trio of horses were responsible for their five stakes scores last season. The Grand Slam colt Grand Adventure, bred in Kentucky by Gulf Coast Farms LLC, came into his own in 2010 winning the Grade II King Edward and the Grade III Connaught Cup Stakes on the famous E.P Taylor turf course. The seven-year-old Cozzene gelding Windward Islands aged like a fine wine capturing the Grade II Nijinsky Stakes to go along with a place finish in the Grade II Sky Classic and a third place showing in the Grade I Northern Dancer Turf Stakes. Hotep, a son of Sam-Son’s outstanding broodmare nominee Eye of the Sphynx, won the Mobil and Wando Stakes, and was on the board finishing second in both the Marine Stakes and Queen’s Plate as well as a third place finish in the Ontario Derby.
All three of Sam-Son Farms’ 2010 stakes winners were finalists for Sovereign Awards in 2010, with Grand Adventure earning the honours as Champion Turf Male over Windward Islands. Hotep would finish second in the voting to Queen’s Plate winner Big Red Mike as Champion Three-Year-Old.
Sam-Son Farm last won this award in 2006 when Soaring Free was named Horse of the Year and Champion Turf Horse, and Oaks winner, Eye of the Sphynx, earned Champion Three-year-old Filly honours.
