Sovereign Voting Begins

**Woodbine fans - Please check the DRF handicapping column by Ron Gierkink in today's edition. Gives a Woodbine report card and, as great a track as it is, there is some work to do! Hope the story gets some notice.

SOVEREIGN AWARD PRIMER

If you are one of the 60-70 folks across Canada who have a vote for Sovereign Awards (Dec. 15) in Toronto, honouring the best horses and horsepeople in the country, or if you just love Canadian racing, here is a preview of some of the contenders, possible winners and some opinions on who should win.

2-YEAR-OLD FILLY

*Result of the Ontario Lassie Stakes on Saturday plays an important role here. CATCH THE THRILL won the Princess Elizabeth in fast time (90 Beyer) and if she wins the Lassie, she probably deserves the Sovereign. Lassie entrant Quiet Action may attract attention if she wins on Saturday. Three-time stakes winner Midnight Shadow has accomplished the most, has run fast on occasion but only in sprints.

2-YEAR-OLD COLT

‘Leo’, as in LEONNATUS ANTEAS. He never lost, he won on turf, inner dirt and Polytrack and came back lame in his last 2 starts to boot.

3-YEAR-OLD FILLY

Do you go with the Oaks and Bison City winner KIMCHI or the Duchess, La Lorgnette (and 2nd in Grade 2 Raven Run at Keeneland) VESTREY LADY. Even Sam-Son’s Strike Softly merits a look. But Vestrey Lady looks like she deserves to win.
*Top grass filly ARRAVALE is not only not eligible for this category 9a ‘main track) category, but was a grass horse only – thus her placement in turf categories. She’ll win a couple of Sovereigns so she doesn’t need one more.

3-YEAR-OLD COLT

EDENWOLD won the Queen’s Plate but that was the only time he really handled SHILLELAGH SLEW, who won two graded stakes later on in the season.

OLDER FEMALE

FINANCINGAVAILABLE. Five of eight, all stakes, $490,000. That’s all that needs to be said.

OLDER MALE

It has been a while since a Western Canadian horse received any respect at the Sovereign Awards but that will change when TRUE METROPOLITAN, who won 7 races, all stakes (!!) including Woodbine’s Grade 3 Slots Cup cruises in this category. Hey, he should get mentioned for Horse of the Year.

TURF FEMALE

ARRAVALE – made a million this year, won 2 Grade 1’s.

TURF MALE

SKY CONQUEROR

SPRINTER
JUDITH’S WILD RUSH or MAIN EXECUTIVE. Arravale fans will also vote for her here since she won a sprint. Tee hee.

HORSE OF THE YEAR
ARRAVALE deserves it. TRUE METROPOLITAN and FINANCINAVAILABLE would be other finalists.

BROODMARE
DREAM SMARTLY, dam of MAIN EXECUTIVE and another sprint champion, 2004’s Blonde Executive.

JOCK/Apprentice
Hmmmmm, it will be a battle between Enna Jayne Wilson, Jim McAleney and Todd Kabel it seems. Emma for apprentice too? Hmmmm, again.

TRAINER
Reade Baker should win again although Sid Attard and Mark Casse and Mike DePaulo have had big years.

OWNER/BREEDER
The bad thing about these categories is that they are always won by Sam-Son or Stronach now, simply because of numbers, numbers, numbers.
Do the right thing and vote for people like the folks at GARDINER FARMS (breeder) or Bill Sorokolit (Breeder/owner) or TUCCI STABLES (owner) or…