The 2009 Sovereign Awards were handed out Friday night at the Four Seasons Hotel in Toronto, Ontario
.
The winners are listed below followed by vote totals and summaries of the winners' achievements.
2009 Sovereign Award Winners
OUTSTANDING JOCKEY
Patrick Husbands
OUTSTANDING APPRENTICE JOCKEY
Omar Moreno
OUTSTANDING TRAINER
Roger Attfield
OUTSTANDING OWNER IN CANADA
Melnyk Racing Stables
OUTSTANDING BREEDER
Eugene Melnyk
OUTSTANDING BROODMARE
Pico Teneriffe
CHAMPION TWO-YEAR-OLD FILLY
Biofuel
Negligee
CHAMPION TWO-YEAR-OLD MALE
Hollinger
CHAMPION THREE-YEAR-OLD FILLY
Milwaukee Appeal
CHAMPION THREE-YEAR-OLD MALE
Eye Of The Leopard
CHAMPION OLDER FEMALE ON THE MAIN TRACK
Serenading
CHAMPION OLDER MALE ON THE MAIN TRACK
Marchfield
CHAMPION SPRINTER
Field Commission
CHAMPION FEMALE SPRINTER
Tribal Belle
CHAMPION MALE TURF HORSE
Champs Elysees
CHAMPION FEMALE TURF HORSE
Points of Grace
HORSE OF THE YEAR
Champs Elysees
OUTSTANDING PHOTOGRAPH
Michael Burns, Sr.
OUTSTANDING FILM/VIDEO/BROADCAST
Woodbine Entertainment Group Broadcasting Department
OUTSTANDING NEWSPAPER STORY
Curtis Stock
OUTSTANDING FEATURE STORY
Bruce Walker
Vote Totals
CHAMPION TWO-YEAR-OLD FILLY
Biofuel 135
Negligee 135
Bay to Bay 34
CHAMPION TWO-YEAR-OLD COLT
Hollinger 175
Bear Tough Guy 59
Ghost Fleet 33
CHAMPION THREE-YEAR-OLD FILLY
Milwaukee Appeal 182
Hooh Why 89
Tasty Temptation 38
CHAMPION THREE-YEAR-OLD MALE
Eye Of The Leopard 130
El Brujo 100
Awesome Rhythm 72
CHAMPION OLDER FEMALE
Serenading 152
Smart Surprise 110
Ginger Brew 56
CHAMPION OLDER MALE
Marchfield 166
Ice Bear 59
Palladio 57
CHAMPION FEMALE TURF HORSE
Points Of Grace 186
Much Obliged 55
Lady Shakespeare 50
CHAMPION MALE TURF HORSE
Champs Elysees 182
Rahy's Attorney 91
Marchfield 53
CHAMPION SPRINTER
Field Commission 121
El Brujo 95
Hollywood Hit 54
CHAMPION FEMALE SPRINTER
Tribal Belle 179
Carem Crescent 65
Smart Surprise 54
HORSE OF THE YEAR
Champs Elysees 118
Milwaukee Appeal 50
Marchfield 40
OUTSTANDING BROODMARe
Pico Teneriffe 75
Rahy's Hope 37
Destroy 34
OUTSTANDING APPRENTICE JOCKEY
Omar Moreno 175
Melanie Pinto 78
Tyrone Nelson 40
OUTSTANDING JOCKEY
Patrick Husbands 185
Eurico Rosa da Silva 63
Chantal Sutherland 62
OUTSTANDING TRAINER
Roger Attfield 150
Mark Casse 73
Malcolm Pierce 55
OUTSTANDING OWNER IN CANADA
Melynk Racing Stables 164
Bear Stables 65
Juddmonte Farms 58
OUTSTANDING BREEDER
Eugene Melnyk 157
Adena Springs 100
Minshall Farms 15
Sovereign Winner Bios
Patrick Husbands, Outstanding Jockey
It was yet another amazing season for Husbands, who took his sixth Woodbine riding title courtesy of 188 wins, which is the fourth-highest total in Woodbine history. Husbands led the way in several categories, including purse earnings of over $10-million, the only local rider to reach the eight-digit mark. He also had the most sprint and route wins, along with 19 turf scores. The 36-year-old moved into third place courtesy of his sixth Woodbine riding title, just one back of the late Avelino Gomez (Sandy Hawley leads with 19) for second spot. One of Husbands' most memorable moments of the year came when he partnered with trainer Mark Casse, owner Eugene Melnyk and four-year-old gelding Grazettes Landing to record his 2,000th win.
Omar Moreno, Outstanding Apprentice Jockey
Moreno made quite a statement when he moved his tack to Woodbine. The apprentice rider won 22 races from 171 starts at the Toronto oval, 60 top-three finishes in all. Moreno hooked up with agent Jack Lauzon, who retired from a highly successful career in the saddle following the 2007 meeting, and rode for a variety of outfits. Moreno's patience paid off handsomely in his abbreviated stint at Woodbine. He contested three added-money events, finishing fifth twice and second with Silver Z in the Bessarabian Stakes on November 22. Silver Z, at 37-1, lost by just a half-length to Sovereign Award finalist (Champion Female Sprinter) Tribal Belle in the Bessarabian.
Roger Attfield, Outstanding Trainer
Hall of Fame trainer Roger Attfield led all Woodbine conditioners in stakes wins in 2009. He won 15 added-money events with 13 different horses. Among his stable stars was promising two-year-old Hollinger, who was undefeated in four starts, including the Cup & Saucer and Coronation Futurity. Attfield also saddled Ontario Colleen heroine Lady Shakespeare and developing turf star Simmard. In total he won 52 races from 200 starts, compiling a 26 per cent strike rate. He led all trainers with 19 E.P. Taylor Turf wins.
2009 WOODBINE TOTALS
WINS: 52
STAKES: 15
PURSE EARNINGS: $3,663,504
Melnyk Racing Stables, Outstanding Owner in Canada
The 2007 Sovereign Award winner as Canada's outstanding owner, Melnyk Racing Stables enjoyed a stellar 2009 campaign at the Toronto oval, taking the title with 40 wins, 15 ahead of their nearest competitor. Their nine stakes wins were tops at the Toronto oval, including Marchfield's added-money double, victories in the Dominion Day and Sky Classic. Sterwins also took two stakes: the Connaught Cup and the With Approval. Melnyk Racing Stables had a lofty 25.3 per cent win average and 58.9 per cent in-the-money average.
Eugene Melyk, Outstanding Breeder
This is Eugene Melnyk's first win in this category. Melnyk-bred horses visited the winner's circle on 99 occasions from 625 starts. Carem Crescent (also a Sovereign finalist, champion female sprinter) took the Duchess and Jammed Lovely Stakes at Woodbine, while Marchfield (voted champion older male for the second straight year) won the Sky Classic and Dominion Day. Sterwins won the With Approval and Connaught Cup.
Biofuel, Co-Champion Two-Year-Old Filly
The daughter of Stormin Fever appeared destined for Breeders' Cup glory in the Juvenile Fillies event, but was bumped in the stretch and had to settle for fourth, just 1-1/2 lengths behind She Be Wild. Trained by Reade Baker, Biofuel romped to a 4-1/2-length win in the Grade 3 Mazarine on October 10.
Negligee, Co-Champion Two-Year-Old Filly
After breaking her maiden by a neck in her career bow on July 25 at Woodbine, this daughter of Northern Afleet finished second in the Ontario Debutante before taking the Grade 1 Alcibiades at Keeneland on October 9. The bay filly rallied stoutly to finish sixth in the Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies, only 1-3/4 lengths behind the winner.
Hollinger, Champion Two-Year-Old Male
Owned and bred by Bob Harvey and Al Wortzman, Hollinger completed his exciting juvenile campaign with a perfect 4-for-4 record. The son of Black Minnaloushe won the two most important races for Canadian-bred two-year-olds, the Cup & Saucer and the Coronation Futurity. He is the second Roger Attfield trainee ever to win a Top Two-Year-Old Male Sovereign - the other was Talkin Man in 1994.
Milwaukee Appeal, Champion Three-Year-Old Filly
Eugene George homebred Milwaukee Appeal seeks to become the ninth Woodbine Oaks winner of the decade to go on and win champion three-year-old filly honors. In nine starts, she racked up $786,808 in earnings. The daughter of Milwaukee Brew was at her best in the 1-1/8-mile classic, defeating Tasty Temptation by 3-3/4 lengths. The Scott Fairlie trainee was a neck and a nose shy of sweeping two-thirds of the Canadian Triple Crown.
Eye of the Leopard, Champion Three-Year-Old Male
Sam-Son Farm homebred Eye of the Leopard was at his best on Canadian racing's most important day. The son of A.P. Indy rallied to win the $1 million Queen's Plate by a neck over Mr. Foricos Two U. The Plate tally was his third straight victory. The Mark Frostad trainee was third in the Prince of Wales Stakes.
Serenading, Champion Older Female
John and Glenn Sikura charge Serenading won the 1-1/4-mile Maple Leaf Stakes at Woodbine and the Grade 2 Fall City Handicap at Churchill Downs in 2009. The bay mare was on the board in two other added-money events. The five-year-old daughter of A.P. Indy banked over $250,000.
Marchfield, Champion Older Male
Melnyk Racing Stables homebred Marchfield captured two graded stakes at Woodbine in 2009. He rallied from well off the pace to take the 1-1/4-mile Dominion Day and defeated Champs Elysees by a half-length in the Sky Classic. In total, he compiled a record of two wins and two seconds from seven starts. The Mark Casse trainee earned $439,425.
Tribal Belle, Champion Female Sprinter
Canvasback Farms homebred Tribal Belle demonstrated sheer brilliance each time trainer Terry Jordan sent her postward. She earned over $360,000 and compiled a scintillating 5-for-6 record, which included an unprecedented three-bagger: a sweep of the Seaway, the Ontario Fashion and the Bessarabian Stakes.
Field Commission, Champion Sprinter
The Ed Seltzer and Danny Vella-owned Field Commission was a consistent performer throughout the 2009 season. In six graded stakes attempts, all at Woodbine, he was first or second on five occasions. He won the Grade 3 Vigil on Polytrack and triumphed in the Grade 2 Nearctic over the E.P. Taylor Turf, becoming the first horse since Play the King (1987 and 1988 champion sprinter) to win both events in the same season.
Champs Elysees, Champion Male Turf Horse
In October, Champs Elysees charged down the middle of the E.P. Taylor Turf Course stretch to nail Jukebox Jury near the wire to win a thrilling renewal of the Grade 1, $2 million Pattison Canadian International. It was Juddmonte's third win in Canada's richest horse race, after taking the 1990 edition with French Glory and the 1994 renewal with stakes record-holder Raintrap. The son of Danehill also had five top-three finishes from seven starts in 2009.
Points of Grace, Champion Female Turf Horse
Malcolm Pierce trainee Points of Grace was at the top of her game in 2009, notching five wins and one second from nine starts. The four-year-old daughter of Point Given took the Grade 2 Dance Smartly (recording a Beyer speed figure of 100) and closed out 2009 with a half-length victory in the River Memories Stakes on October 31.
Champs Elysees, Horse of the Year
In October, Champs Elysees charged down the middle of the E.P. Taylor Turf Course stretch to nail Jukebox Jury near the wire to win a thrilling renewal of the Grade 1, $2 million Pattison Canadian International. It was Juddmonte's third win in Canada's richest horse race, after taking the 1990 edition with French Glory and the 1994 renewal with stakes record-holder Raintrap. The son of Danehill also had five top-three finishes from seven starts in 2009.
(With files from WEG)