LET’S GO

 

 

 

 

 

 

HIGH FLYING – UP WITH THE BIRDS is CANADA’S HORSE OF THE YEAR

Sam-Son Farms’  brilliant colt UP WITH THE BIRDS, a Grade 1 winner in 2013, was named Canada’s Horse of the Year at Friday night’s Sovereign Awards ceremony at Woodbine racetrack. The colt was named the champion 3-year-old male champion as well on a night that welcomed in the 2014 season that begins Saturday and celebrated all our heroes – horses and humans – of 2013. Congratulations to the nominees and may everyone have great racing luck in 2014.

The owner and trainer get the glory, but Larry and Vic and have been with our company for years, they are accountants, they make sure we don’t get out of control with our spending (much laughter)” – Rick Balaz, Sam-Son farms

Congrats to Sam-Son – Michael and Lisa Balaz, Kim Samuel, Mark Samuel, Rick Balaz and Dave Whitford. Of course we must not forget Ernie Samuel, Liza Samuel and Tammy Samuel Balaz.

 

2013 Horse of the Year – Up With the Birds

Bay C. 3 by Stormy Atlantic – Song of the Lark (Seeking the Gold)
Breeder / Owner: Sam-Son Farm (s) (ON)
Trainer: Malcolm Pierce
2013: 6 starts – 4 wins – 2 second – 0 third – $973,000
Winner: Black Gold, Marine, Breeders, G1 Jamaica H

2013 Horse of the Year Points Results:

Up With the Birds (113) Forte Dei Marmi (52) Phil’s Dream (40) Herbie D (14)

Horse of the Year Finalists:
Forte Dei Marmi (GB)
Herbie D
Phil’s Dream
Up With the Birds

 

*Champion Two-Year-Old Male – Go Greeley

Dk.B or B C 2 by Horse Greeley – Orchids Halo (Smoke Glacken)

Breeder: Shannon Farms (ON)

Owner: J.R. Racing Stable Inc.

Trainer: John Ross

2013: 6 starts – 4 wins – 1 second – 1 third – $390,060

Winner: MSW$63K, Colin, Vandal, Simcoe

Points Results: Go Greeley (82) Jose Sea View (81) Asserting Bear (45) Ami’s Holiday (42)

Just ONE POINT separated Go Greeley and Jose Sea View in this award. John Ross gives shout out to BUD REYNOLDS, late owner of Jam Jar. Ross bought the colt for Bud before he passed away.

 

 

 

*Champion Two-Year-Old Filly – Ria Antonia

B F 2 by Rockport Harbor – Beer Baroness (Mr. Greeley)

Breeder: Lynn B. Schiff (KY)

Owner: Christopher T. Dunn and Loooch Racing

Trainer: Jeremiah Englehart

2013: 5 starts – 2 wins – 0 second – 0 third – $1,157,790

Winner: MSW$56K, G1 Breeders Cup Juvenile Fillies

Points Results: Ria Antonia (105) Paladin Bay (97) Lexie Lou (36) On Rainbow Bridge (16)

 

*Outstanding Apprentice Jockey – Skye Chernetz

Just 3voting points got the award for Chernetz over western Canadian star Amie Pooli.

“My agent and my Mom, is the most fabulous person”

2013 – 580 starts – 54 wins – 57 seconds – 60 thirds – $2,152,103 in earnings

A nominee in this category in 2012, Skye Chernetz had an even better second season as an apprentice. Chernetz, who grew up in Winnipeg, Manitoba is the daughter of one of Canada’s first women riders, Bonnie Eshelman.  Chernetz knew she wanted to ride racehorses at the age of 8 and learned her skills at her hometown’s Assiniboia Downs. She set up shop for her first season as a jockey at Woodbine racetrack in 2012 under the wing of veteran trainer Dave Cotey. She won her first race in May of 2012. Chernetz won her first stakes race when she guided the 2-year-old filly On Rainbow Bridge to victory in the Shady Well Stakes at Woodbine for Triple K Stable and trainer Cotey followed by a second stakes win, the Nandi, on the same filly in August.

Points Results: Skye Chernetz (111) Amie Pooli (108) Tommy Wong (18) Sheena Ryan (13)

 

Champion Older Male – Alpha Bettor

Ch. H 5 by Alphabet Soup – Scatter Buy (Relaunch)

Breeder: Adena Springs (KY)

Owner: Bulldog Racing

Trainer: Daniel Vella

2013: 6 starts – 3 wins – 1 second – 1 third – $346,700

Winner: G2 Eclipse, G3 Seagram Cup, G2 Autumn

Points Results: Alpha Bettor (126) Herbie D (58) Ultimate Destiny (34) Delegation (31)

“We could not have got here with the people that work at the barn, a solid, good trainer and of course, Alpha Bettor, a very professional horse.” – Bulldog Racing

 

Champion Older Female – Sisterly Love

B. M 5 by Bellamy Road – Odylic (Dixieland Band)

Breeder: Kinsman Farm (KY)

Owner: Gary Barber

Trainer: Mark Casse

2013: 8 starts – 2 wins – 1 second – 1 third – $262,712

Winner: Trillium, G3 Ontario Matron

Points Results: Sisterly Love (123) Part the Seas (71) Moonlit Beauty (42) Madeira Park (21)

“Mr. Barber – I am very honoured to receive this award, I have to thank Mark Casse and his superb team. I am thrilled to be a part of racing in Canada”

 

Outstanding Trainer – Mark Casse

2013 – 414 starts – 86 wins – 55 seconds – 52 thirds – $5,576,183 in earnings

A five-time winner in this category including the past two seasons in succession,  Mark Casse and his team continued its successful run as Woodbine’s leading stable in 2013. Casse won 85 races at the meeting (and one at Fort Erie: Uncaptured scored in the Prince of Wales Stakes, the second jewel of Canada’s Triple Crown) to lead all conditioners at the Toronto track. Casse won 19 stakes races in Canada, three of them graded events, won by Madly Truly, Laugh Track, My Conquestadory, Delegation, Sisterly Love and Delightful Mary. Laugh Track went on to finish a fast-closing second in the Grade 1 Breeders’ Cup Sprint at Santa Anita in November and My Conquestadory won the Grade 1 Alcibiades at Keeneland.  Sisterly Love, was named Champion Older female in Canada tonight and Delegation, was a 2013 Sovereign finalist for Older Male.

Points Results: Mark Casse (144) Reade Baker (54) Malcolm Pierce (25) Nicholas Gonzalez (11)

*Mark was unable to attend but thanked David Adams, his assistant, Sue Leslie,’the hardest working woman in racing’ and his team (and Tina!).

 

Champion Turf Male – Forte Dei Marmi (GB)

B G. 7 by Selkirk – Frangy (GB) (Sadler’s Wells)

Breeder: Fittocks Stud (GB)

Owner: Stella Perdomo

Trainer: Roger Attfield

2013: 7 starts – 3 wins – 0 second – 0 third – $400,558

Winner: G3 Singspiel, G2 Sky Classic, G1 Northern Dancer

Points Results: Forte Dei Marmi (123 Up With the Birds (105) River Seven (28) Phil’s Dream (20)

 

 

Champion Turf Female – Solid Appeal

Dk.B or B F 4 by Successful Appeal – Star of the Woods (Woodman)

Breeder: Select Bloodstock LLC (KY)

Owner: Jim and Susan Hill

Trainer: Reade Baker

2013: 6 starts – 3 wins – 0 second – 1 third – $305,466

Winner: Alw$61K, G2 Nassau, G2 Dance Smartly

Points Results: Solid Appeal (126) Leigh Court (76) Overheard (60) Part the Seas (13)

“I would like to that Susanne Smallwood, who picked her out at Keeneland, Reade Baker, her trainer and thirdly, Leonard Zenith, the guy who got us into racing.” – Jim Hill

 

 

Outstanding Breeder – Sam-Son Farm

2013 – 60 Starters – 40 Winners $3,911,792 in earnings

One of Canada’s longtime leading breeders of top-class thoroughbreds, Sam-Son Farms is a perennial finalist in this category. Now operated by Mark and Kim Samuel and Rick Balaz and family.  Sam-Son was a finalist in this category in 2012 and it has won the Outstanding Breeder award 7 times in its history. The stars of 2013 included nine stakes horses led by Grade 1 winner Up With the Birds, named  champion three-year-old male and 2013 horse of the year tonight.  Up With the Birds won the G1 Jamaica Handicap at Belmont Park as well as the Breeders’ Stakes, the third jewel of Canada’s Triple Crown, the Marine and Black Gold Stakes. He was also a close second to Midnight Aria in the Queen’s Plate. Sam-Son also bred graded stakes winners His Race to Win (G3 Ontario Derby), Part the Seas (G2 Bessarabian Stakes) plus Dance Again, Smartyfly and graded stakes placed Irish Mission.

Points Results: Sam-Son Farm (119) William D Graham (79) Adena Springs (43) Chiefswood Stables Ltd. (10)

 

Champion Three-Year-Old Male – Up With the Birds

Bay C. 3 by Stormy Atlantic – Song of the Lark (Seeking the Gold)

Breeder / Owner: Sam-Son Farm (s) (ON)

Trainer: Malcolm Pierce

2013: 6 starts – 4 wins – 2 second – 0 third – $973,000

Winner: Black Gold, Marine, Breeders, G1 Jamaica H

Points Results: Up With the Birds (153) River Seven (60) Five Iron (35) Midnight Aria (32)

 

Champion Three-Year-Old Filly – Leigh Court

Dk B or B F 3 by Grand Slam – Padmore (French Deputy)

Breeder: Eugene Melnyk (KY)

Owner: Melnyk Racing Stables Inc.

Trainer: Josie Carroll

2013: 9 starts – 5 wins – 2 second – 0 third – $344,660

Winner: MSW$39K, Alw$59K, Duchess,

G3 Ontario Colleen, La Lorgnette

Points Results: Leigh Court (135) Overheard (55) Nipissing (33) Coffee Clique (17)

 

 

Outstanding Jockey – Eurico Da Silva

2013 –  660 starts – 143 wins – 121 seconds – 88 thirds – $8,235,610 in earnings

Nearing his 10th year riding at Woodbine, Eurico da Silva had his second best season ever as a jockey in 2013 by purse earnings. Born in Brazil, Da Silva is a popular member of the Woodbine jockey colony and he rode to the top of the charts in 2010 as he led all riders by wins and purses and was named the Sovereign Award winning Outstanding Jockey. He was second in wins in 2013 to Luis Contreras but led the colony by purse earnings and his 27 stakes wins was easily the best of any rider in Canada in 2013. Da Silva rode for big stables such as Sam-Son Farms and trainer Mark Casse and won on stars such as Up With the Birds, My Conquestadory, Forte dei Marmi, His Race to Win and Overheard.

Points Results: Eurico Da Silva (126) Luis Contreras (83) Rico Walcott (39) Justin Stein (13)

“It’s a real honour to win this . My year was not perfect, I thought I was on the best horse in the Queen’s Plate, we just missed. ” Da Silva thanks almost a dozen trainers, his wife, his son. He also congratulates all the top jockeys at Woodbine.

 

Champion Male Sprinter – Phil’s Dream

Dk.B. B. G 5 by Philanthropist – Dream A Dream (GB) (Emperor Jones)

Breeder: Paul Buttigieg (ON)

Owner: Buttigieg Training Centre

Trainer: Paul Buttigieg

2013: 10 starts – 7 wins – 1 second – 1 third – $537,910

Winner: Alw $54K, Alw$57K, Alw$67K, OC $62K, Overskate, G1 Nearctic, Ontario Jockey Club

Points Results: Phil’s Dream (144) Essence Hit Man (49) Herbie D (36) Bear No Joke (22)

 

Champion Female Sprinter – Youcan’tcatchme

Dk B or B F 4 by The Daddy – Poppy’s Baby Girl (GB) (Yankee Victor)

Breeder: Strouds Lane Farm (FL)

Owner: Murray Stroud

Trainer: Sam Di Pasquale

2013: 5 starts – 3 wins – 1 second – 0 third – $260,400

Winner: Etobicoke H, G3 Seaway, G3 Ontario Fashion

Points Results: Youcan’tcatchme (88) Goldstryke Glory (65) Leigh Court (58) Part the Seas (46)

“We’re here because we love the animal. This is the first mare I bought and the first foal I had out of her. Really gratifying to here.” – Murray Stroud

 

Outstanding Owner – John C. Oxley

2013 – 127 starts – 27 wins – 17 seconds – 23 thirds – $2,535,533 in earnings

This is the second consecutive Outstanding Owner win for Oklahoma oilman John Oxley, the leading owner at Woodbine by purse earnings the past two seasons. In 2013, the Oxley runners, which are trained by Mark Casse won 27 races which included nine stakes races. The stakes wins were by nine different horses, illustrating the strength of the Oxley bench. A couple of fillies, the 4-year-old Delightful Mary and the 2-year-old Madly Truly, won graded races: the former scored in the G3 Hendrie Stakes and the latter won the G3 Mazarine Stakes.  The other Canadian stakes winners were Canadian-breds Uncaptured, winner of the Prince of Wales Stakes at Fort Erie, Dynamic Sky, who won the Plate Trial Stakes, Spring in the Air, Matador, Northern Passion, Sky Commander and Sky High Lady.

Points Results: John C. Oxley (127) Sam-Son Farms (62) Bear Stables Ltd. (36) Tucci Stables (15)

 

Outstanding Broodmare – Captivating

(2002) by Arch – Andrea Ruckus (Bold Ruckus)

Breeder: Fred Seitz (ON)  Owner: William Graham

A finalist in this category in 2012, Captivating has proven to be a keeper for Sovereign Award winning breeder Bill Graham. The 12-year-old Ontario-bred is the dam of 2012 Canadian Horse of the Year and Champion two-year-old colt Uncaptured. A son of Lion Heart, Uncaptured continued his superb career in 2013 by winning the Prince of Wales Stakes at Fort Erie and placing in five other stakes races, three of them graded. Uncaptured, raced by John Oxley, has earned over $1 million. Captivating’s first foal to race is stakes winner Dancing Raven, a filly by Tomahawk who won two stakes races at Woodbine and over $396,000. Captivating has a 2011 filly by Majestic Warrior and a 2013 filly by Uncle Mo.
Points Results: Captivating (84) Shebandowana (66) Star Guest (50) Galadriel (19)

 

(Media) Outstanding Photograph – Patti Tubbs

Photo of Frank Fuentes published in Horse Racing BC in print and on-line.

(Media) Outstanding Writing – Alex Campbell

Saved For Now, article published in Bloodhorse magazine

(Media) Outstanding Audio/visual and Broadcast – Woodbine Entertainment Group Broadcast Department

The Ricoh Woodbine Mile, aired on SportsNet 360 Television Network.

The Jockey Club of Canada Award – the inaugural award was presented to Janie Ginsberg at the School of Media Studies and Information Technology, Humber Institute of Advanced Technology and Advanced Learning in Toronto in January 2014.  This monetary award is presented to a student entering their final year of study, who has exemplified outstanding leadership inside and out of the classroom; who has showcased exceptional knowledge of sport and sport issues with special consideration given to those who have reported on issues relating to Canadian thoroughbred coverage.  Tonight Janie was presented with a plaque in recognition of receiving the award.

 

NOW – LET’S GET READY TO RUMBLE – 2014 EDITION

The 59th WOODBINE racing season is ready to go at 1 p.m. today. Get your binoculars, your DAILY RACING FORM and enjoy the races. picks are at www.jmbets.ca

The TORONTO SUN and TORONTO STAR had features in for the opening. It is an integral industry to Ontario and the mart people know that. Let’s hope that we continue on strong and proud.

Toronto Star feature:

http://www.thestar.com/sports/2014/04/11/thoroughbreds_return_to_woodbine_on_saturday.html