Standardbred Canada has released the breakdown of the voting for the 2021 O'Brien Awards. The Virtual O’Brien Awards Gala took place Sunday, February 6, 2022, and was video streamed live on standardbredcanada.ca.
The complete breakdown of the official voting appears below. 44 voters from across the country, which includes one Fan Ballot (put together based on all the Fan voting) comprised the voting. Voters voted for a first and second selection in each horse category, Future Star, O’Brien Award of Horsemanship and Armstrong Breeder of the Year categories.
Voters were asked to vote for a first, second, third, fourth and fifth place person in the Trainer of the Year Category and Keith Waples Driver of the Year Category in round one. (New this year) Based on a shortlist of the highest point earners in each of those categories, voters were asked to vote for a first and second place selection in Round Two.
Also new for the 2021 balloting was selecting a first, second and third place selection in the Somebeachsomewhere Horse of the Year Category.
A unanimous score was 88 points in round one and 82 points in round two.
First place votes were worth two (2) points and second place votes were worth one (1) point.
Two-Year-Old Pacing Fillies
Prohibition Legal – 88 (unanimous)
Silver Label - 42
Boudoir Hanover, Fade Out - 1 each
Two-Year-Old Pacing Colts
Betterhavemymoney - 39
Stonebridge Helios - 38
Bob Loblaw - 27
True Blue Lindy -18
Magical Arthur - 7
Beach Glass - 2
Fern Hill General - 1
Three-Year-Old Pacing Fillies
Scarlett Hanover - 71
Voelz Delight - 47
Exotic Dragon - 9
Dabarndawgswatchin - 3
Graceful Horizon & Mystifying - 1 each
Three-Year-Old Pacing Colts
Desperate Man - 79
Bulldog Hanover - 42
Lawless Shadow - 5
Woodmere Stealdeal - 3
Power Train, The Light Speed, Whichwaytothebeach - 1 each
Older Pacing Mares
Lyons Sentinel - 66
So Much More - 53
Rocknificent - 6
Machnhope - 2
Gias Surreal, Lit De Rose - 2
Karma Seelster - 1
Older Pacing Horses
Wheels On Fire - 63
Warrawee Vital - 45
Enavant - 17
Beyond Better - 5
Century Farroh, Points North - 1 each
Two-Year-Old Trotting Fillies
Venerable - 71
Adare Castle - 57
Dabra Day - 2
HP Felicity, Mischevious Rose - 1 each
Two-Year-Old Trotting Colts
Duly Resolved - 76
Twin B Archie - 31
King Of The North - 24
Esplosione - 1
Three-Year-Old Trotting Fillies
Up And Ready - 46
Donna Soprano - 41
HP Mama B - 39
PL Opportunity, Amazon Duharas - 2 each
Imextraspecial, You Will Be Queen - 1 each
Three-Year-Old Trotting Colts
Fashion Frenzie - 88 (unanimous)
Logan Park - 43
Urntrouble Hanover - 1
Older Trotting Mares
Grandma Heidi - 73
Power And Grace - 34
Royalty Deal - 8
Impulse Buy - 6
Hey Livvy - 4
Cheeky Little Minx - 2
Magic Wanda, Teddys Littleangel, Daisy River, Sheswildnfree, HP Bruxelles - 1 each
Older Trotting Horses
Perfetto - 79
Oney Hall - 21
Its Academic - 17
Warrawee Roo - 9
Forbidden Trade*, Freddie, Only For Justice - 2 each
People Awards
Future Star
Kyle Bossence - 57
Samuel Fillion - 37
Amanda Fine - 35
No Vote - 3
O’Brien Award of Horsemanship
Luc Blais - 67
Mark Etsell - 43
Dave Kelly - 22
Armstrong Breeder of the Year
Millar Farms - 60
Winbak Farm - 50
Seelster Farms - 19
No Vote - 3
Second Round ballots - 41 returned
First place votes were worth two (2) points and second place votes were worth one (1) point.
Keith Waples Driver of the Year
James MacDonald - 82 (unanimous)
Sylvain Filion - 20
Doug McNair - 11
Trevor Henry - 7
Bob McClure - 3
Trainer of the Year
Richard Moreau - 49
Nick Gallucci - 44
Camen Auciello - 17
Luc Blais - 10
Ben Baillargeon - 3
SOMEBEACHSOMEWHERE HORSE OF THE YEAR - one vote per person for first, second and third place selections
First place = 3 points Second place = 2 points Third place = 1 point
Desperate Man - 93
Prohibition Legal - 62
Venerable - 28
Bulldog Hanover - 21
Scarlett Hanover - 11
Lyons Sentinel - 9
Adare Castle, Fashion Frenzie - 8 each
King Of The North, So Much More, Duly Resolved - 4 each
Perfetto - 3
Power And Grace, Forbidden Trade* 2 each
Beyond Better, Century Farroh, Donna Soprano, Enavant, Warrawee Vital - 1 each
* ineligible due to only two Canadian starts