“When you love something as much as I love Thoroughbred racing, it gives you the energy and the drive to make a difference. ” ~ Sam Lima
43rd SOVEREIGN AWARDS
A special night for newcomers and the pillars
SAM LIMA’s acceptance speech after receiving the SPECIAL SOVEREIGN nicely summed up what everyone was there for – the horses and the sport of horse racing.
Sam, a passionate horse racing lover who got into horse ownership as a businessman in Toronto decades ago. A $12,500 claim who finished last the day he claimed him went on to be 2nd in the Queen’s Plate. He has raced horses consistently until a few years ago.
He has been at the helm of the Ontario Horsemen’s Benevolent and Protective Association and took over the Toronto Thoroughbred Racing Club and has kept that fan club going longer than anything of its kind in Canada.
Sam, with wife Frances and daughter Carolyn, were greeted warmly by the good crowd at the Palais Royale on Thursday night. After his short speech, Sam was given a standing ovation.
He will be at the races this weekend in his 4th floor room and is already getting ready for another fun season of his Toronto Thoroughbred Racing Club.
Some other highlights of the night (all winners listed below):
Horse of The Year: Pink Lloyd
Ch. g. 5 / Sire: Old Forester / Dam: Gladiator Queen (Great Gladiator)
Trainer: Robert P. Tiller
Owner: Entourage Stable
Breeder: John Carey
2017: 8 Starts – 8 wins – 0 seconds – 0 thirds – $663,000
Winner: Kennedy Road S. (G2), Overskate S., Kenora S., Shepperton S., Vigil S. (G3),
Achievement S., New Providence S., Jacques Cartier S.
Pink Lloyd (150), Ami’s Mesa (82), Holy Helena (40)
PINK LLOYD won 3 awards – Horse of the Year, Champion Older Male and Champion Sprinter. The John Carey-bred chestnut gelding who went a stunning 8 for 8 in 2017, all stakes, was bought for $32,000 by Frank DiGuilio Jr. and his family and friends, together known as Entourage Stable.
“His racing career was a long time coming but it was definitely worth the wait,'”said DiGiulio Jr. who was surprised the gelding won the Older Male category, usually reserved for route horses over strictly sprinters.
Trainer ROBERT TILLER accepted the award for Pink Lloyd’s Champion Sprinter trophy. He listed all the people associated with the horse as well as other people who work for him.
Tiller also emphasized the importance of the backstretch workers to Woodbine CEO Jim Lawson.
“This game isn’t just about winning and losing it’s about the backside people who work their butts off. I want you to know they do it every day, 7 days a week. Right Mr. Lawson? They really work hard.”
Tiller said the horse racing game is “not as easy as it looks” and said he spent a trip to the Bahamas worrying about Pink Lloyd.
“I love you Pink Lloyd and I love everybody in this place.”
The “entourage” from ENTOURAGE STABLE – horse-races.net photo – From left to right John Lucato – Cheryl Longo (Ed’s wife) -John Peri – Frank DiGiulio-presenter – Victor Mele – Bob
IVAN DALOS, arguably the most successful Ontario breeder in the last 2 seasons, won his 2nd straight award for one of his broodmares.
VICTORIOUS AMI, the younger half sister to last year’s winner GALLOPING AMI, won the Outstanding Broodmare award for 2017,a lifetime achievement award.
Victorious Ami is the dam of the Champion Older Female and Champion Female Sprinter AMI’S MESA, another star Dalos homebred.
And Dalos is the breeder of JOHNNY BEAR, named the Champion Turf Male for the fun partnership of John Burness and Daddy Dion (the Bear).
There was more for Dalos – he also bred CHANNEL MAKER, named Champion Three-Year-Old Colt for owners Joey Gee Thoroughbred, Wachtel Stable and Gary Barber. Andrew Smith accepted the award.
So with 5 Sovereign Awards for horses he bred it seemed a certainty that the Toronto businessman would finally receive his first ever OUTSTANDING BREEDER AWARD.
The trophy he lost last year by one voting point eluded him again, however.
ADENA SPRINGS won its 12th Breeder Award.
“We are 55 years in this game and we are just as excited about this award now as we were with the first one,” said Freida Stronach.
CHIEFSWOOD STABLE won it’s first OUTSTANDING OWNER Award and Robert Krembil accepted the trophy. Chiefswood is 18 years old this year.
Another very nice moment was SOLI MEHTA whose mare STARSHIP JUBILEE won Turf Female. Owned in part by trainer Kevin Attard, the mare was a $16,000 claiming and went on to be a graded stakes winner and then champion.
“This is my first stakes horse in 44 years of racing’ said Mehta.
Dave Landry’s picture of QUIDI VIDI on the cover of the February 2017 issue of Canadian Thoroughbred won a Sovereign Award for Best Photograph.
The unbeatable EURICO DA SILVA won Outstanding Jockey, again. As he is suspended for the first couple of weeks of the season, Eurico quipped in his acceptance speed, “I would like to thank the stewards for allowing me to come tonight.”
SOVEREIGN AWARD VOTE TOTALS
Outstanding Broodmare: Victorious Ami
Victory Gallop – Secret Ami, by Secret Claim
Progeny Earnings $1,834,978
Owner: Ivan Dalos
Breeder: Tall Oaks Farm
Victorious Ami’s five winning foals were led by the brilliant mare Ami’s Mesa, who had victories in three graded stakes events in 2017, including the Grade 2 Presque Isle Downs Master’s Stakes. A finalist for Champion Older Mare and Champion Female Sprinter for 2017, Ami’s Mesa earned over $588,000 during the year. Victorious Ami’s third foal, Ami’s Holiday, won the 2014 Breeders’ Stakes and 2013 Grey Stakes (Grade 3) and earned over $817,000. The mare has also produced stakes placed Victory Exchange, has a 2-year-old colt by Into Mischief and a yearling colt by Flatter.
Victorious Ami (164), Keen Victory (53), Loving Vindication (21), Miss Crissy (21)
Outstanding Apprentice Jockey: Rey Williams
Starts (261); Wins (41); Seconds (51); Thirds (45) Earnings ($471,415)
Barbados-born Rey Williams was Canada’s leading apprentice jockey in 2017 with 41 victories at Northlands Park and Century Downs in Alberta. A bettor’s favourite with more than 50% of his mounts finishing in the top three, Rey was the sixth leading rider at the Northlands. Rey rode Mister Jangles to a 7 to 1 upset win in the $50,000 Red Diamond Express Stakes and orchestrated another big win with Piper Rose in the $50,000 Alberta Oaks.
Rey Williams (158), Ridge Balgobin (67), Brandon A. Duchaine (56)
Champion Older Male: Pink Lloyd
Ch. g. 5 / Sire: Old Forester / Dam: Gladiator Queen (Great Gladiator)
Trainer: Robert P. Tiller
Owner: Entourage Stable
Breeder: John Carey
2017: 8 Starts – 8 wins – 0 seconds – 0 thirds – $663,000
Winner: Kennedy Road S. (G2), Overskate S., Kenora S., Shepperton S., Vigil S. (G3),
Achievement S., New Providence S., Jacques Cartier S.
Pink Lloyd (142), Melmich (108), Gigantic Breeze (38)
Champion Older Female: Ami’s Mesa
Dk. b or b. f. 4 / Sire: Sky Mesa / Dam: Victorious Ami (Victory Gallop)
Trainer: Josie Carroll
Owner: Ivan Dalos
Breeder: Tall Oaks Farm
2017: 5 Starts – 4 wins – 1 second- 0 thirds – $634,880
Winner: Presque Isle Downs Masters S. (G2), Seaway S. (G3), Ontario Matron (G3), OC 62k
Ami’s Mesa (172), Moonlit Promise (66), Gamble’s Ghost (48)
Outstanding Trainer: Mark Casse
Starts (509); Wins (96); Seconds (85); Thirds (72)
Earnings $5,437,013 Stakes wins 18
Mark Casse’s stable had another strong season in 2017 with 96 winners and purse earnings of over $5.4 million. The season highlight being World Approval’s win in the Grade 1 Woodbine Mile, the second consecutive Woodbine Mile winner for Mark. Woodbine stable stars also include 2017 Sovereign Award finalists Wonder Gadot, as well as Field of Courage and Sovereign Award finalist Enstone.
Mark Casse (152), Norman McKnight (37), Josie Carroll (29), Catherine Day Phillips (29)
Champion Male Turf Horse: Johnny Bear
Ch. g. 6 / Sire: English Channel / Dam: In Return (Horse Chestnut)
Trainer: Ashlee Brnjas
Owner: Colebrook Farms and Bear Stables, Ltd.
Breeder: Tall Oaks Farm
2017: 11 Starts – 5 wins – 1 second – 1 third – $385,224
Winner: Northern Dancer Turf S. (G1), Halton S., OC 62k, OC 62k, OC 32k
Johnny Bear (142), Channel Maker (67), Tower of Texas (49)
Champion Female Turf Horse: Starship Jubilee
B. f. 4 / Sire: Indy Wind / Dam: Perfectly Wild (Forest Wildcat)
Trainer: Kevin Attard
Owner: Attard, Kevin and Mehta, Soli
Breeder: William P. Sorren
2017: 10 Starts – 6 wins – 1 second – 2 thirds – $310,900
Winner: Dance Smartly S. (G2), Nassau S. (G2), OC25K/N1X-N, ALW 50K, OC16K/N1X-N,
CLM 16K
Starship Jubilee (152), Inflexibility (81), Enstone (68)
Outstanding Breeder: Adena Springs
Starters 68; Winners 39
Earnings $5,827,530
Starts (432); Wins (64); Seconds (67); Thirds (61)
Frank Stronach’s Adena Springs had eight individual Canadian-bred stakes winners in 2017 including Holy Helena, who won the Woodbine Oaks and Queen’s Plate for the farm. Shaman Ghost , another Stronach offspring of Ghostzapper, had a big year racing in the U.S. with victories in the Grade 1 Santa Anita Handicap and Grade 2 Pimlico Special. Other Canadianbred stakes winners from the Adena Springs include Grade 3 winner Shakhimat and 2-year-old
stakes winner Glamanation.
Adena Springs (139), Tall Oaks Farm (91), Anderson Farms Ont. Inc. (56)
Champion Two-Year-Old Male: Admiralty Pier
Ch. g. 2 / Sire: English Channel / Dam: Full Steam Ahead (Kitten’s Joy)
Trainer: Barbara J. Minshall
Owner: Hoolie Racing Stable, LLC and Lunsford, Bruce
Breeder: Calumet Farm
2017: 5 Starts – 2 wins – 1 second – 1 third – $141,300
Winner: Display S., MSW
Admiralty Pier (109), Archaggelos (65), Be Vewy Vewy Quiet (64)
Champion Two-Year-Old Filly: Wonder Gadot
Dk. b or b. f. 2 / Sire: Medaglia d’Oro / Dam: Loving Vindication (Vindication)
Trainer: Mark E. Casse
Owner: Gary Barber
Breeder: Anderson Farms Ont. Inc.
2017: 5 Starts – 3 wins – 0 seconds – 1 third – $348,140
Winner: Demoiselle S. (Gr. 2), Mazarine S. (G3), MSW
Wonder Gadot (138), Dream It Is (82), Dixie Moon (73)
Outstanding Jockey: Eurico Rosa Da Silva
Starts (824); Wins (203); Seconds (186); Thirds (121)
Earnings $8,506,596 Stakes wins 34
Eurico Rosa da Silva won a remarkable 34 stakes races in 2017. One of the biggest victories of the year came when he rode American invader Bullards Alley to a 42 to 1 upset in the Grade 1 Pattison Canadian International. Eurico was also an integral part of Pink Lloyd’s magical season, who won eight stakes races in 2017. Other stars ridden by Eurico include Sovereign Award finalists Dixie Moon, Melmich and Mr. Havercamp. Eurico also did Canada proud when he won Japan’s World All-Star Jockey Challenge in August.
Eurico Rosa Da Silva (164), Luis Contreras (83), Rico Walcott (24)
Champion Male Sprinter: Pink Lloyd
Ch. g. 5 / Sire: Old Forester / Dam: Gladiator Queen (Great Gladiator)
Trainer: Robert P. Tiller
Owner: Entourage Stable
Breeder: John Carey
2017: 8 Starts – 8 wins – 0 seconds – 0 thirds – $663,000
Winner: Kennedy Road S. (G2), Overskate S., Kenora S., Shepperton S., Vigil S. (G3),
Achievement S., New Providence S., Jacques Cartier S.
Pink Lloyd (180), Ikerrin Road (82), Yorkton (25)
Champion Female Sprinter: Ami’s Mesa
Dk. b or b. f. 4 / Sire: Sky Mesa / Dam: Victorious Ami (Victory Gallop)
Trainer: Josie Carroll
Owner: Ivan Dalos
Breeder: Tall Oaks Farm
2017: 5 Starts – 4 wins – 1 second- 0 thirds – $634,880
Winner: Presque Isle Downs Masters S. (G2), Seaway S. (G3), Ontario Matron (G3), OC 62k
Ami’s Mesa (178), Moonlit Promise (87), Jennifer Lynnette (24)
Outstanding Owner: Chiefswood Stable
Starts (143); Wins (25); Seconds (31); Thirds (21)
Earnings $2,284,718 Stakes wins 7
This is the first nomination for Robert and Mark Krembil’s Chiefswood Stable which has divisions in King City and Loretto, ON. Its purse earnings of over $2.2 million in 2017 was the most earned by Chiefswood runners in the stable’s history. Stars for the Krembil family in 2017 include Tiz a Slam, a finalist for 2017 Champion Three-Year-Old Male, as well as Yorkton, a nominee in this year’s Sovereign Award Male Sprinter category.
Chiefswood Stable (117), Ivan Dalos (69), Stronach Stables (60)
Champion Three-Year-Old Male: Channel Maker
Ch. g. 3 / Sire: English Channel / Dam: In Return (Horse Chestnut)
Trainer: William I. Mott
Owner: Joey Gee Thoroughbreds, Wachtel Stable and Barber, Gary
Breeder: Tall Oaks Farm
2017: 9 Starts – 1 wins – 3 seconds – 0 thirds – $408,467
Winner: Breeders’ Stakes
Channel Maker (113), Mr Havercamp (82), Tiz a Slam (70)
Champion Three-Year-Old Filly: Holy Helena
Dk.b or b. f. 3 / Sire: Ghostzapper / Dam: Holy Grace (Holy Bull)
Trainer: James A. Jerkens
Owner: Stronach Stables
Breeder: Adena Springs
2017: 6 Starts – 3 wins – 2 seconds – 0 thirds – $991,000
Winner: Queens Plate S., Woodbine Oaks S., MSW
Holy Helena (166), Enstone (56), Daz Lin Dawn (38), Inflexibility (38)
Horse of The Year: Pink Lloyd
Ch. g. 5 / Sire: Old Forester / Dam: Gladiator Queen (Great Gladiator)
Trainer: Robert P. Tiller
Owner: Entourage Stable
Breeder: John Carey
2017: 8 Starts – 8 wins – 0 seconds – 0 thirds – $663,000
Winner: Kennedy Road S. (G2), Overskate S., Kenora S., Shepperton S., Vigil S. (G3),
Achievement S., New Providence S., Jacques Cartier S.
Pink Lloyd (150), Ami’s Mesa (82), Holy Helena (40)
SEEING DOUBLE?
Identical twin jockeys begin career on opening weekend at Hastings.
Move over Henrik and Daniel, there’s another identical twin brother act ready to hit the local sports scene.
Meet Lenny and Learie Seecharen, 22-year-old jockeys from Trinidad who will be riding Saturday and Sunday during opening weekend of the 2018 thoroughbred season at Hastings Racecourse.
“There is no way I can tell them apart,” says Racing Secretary Nichelle Milner.
