(Photo Michael Burns)

Sixteen Ontario bred horses were named 2021 Sovereign Award finalists by the Jockey Club of Canada, highlighted by Pink Lloyd earning nominations in Champion Older Main Track Male and Champion Sprint Male during his swan song campaign.

The nine-year-old posted a 3-2-0 record in his 2021 campaign, including a walk-off win in the Kennedy Road Stakes, his third career victory in the race, and a fitting cap to his celebrated career.

TWO-YEAR-OLD AND THREE-YEAR-OLDS

Haddassah’s win in the Prince of Wales Stakes and over $260,000 in earnings were rewarded with a nomination in Champion Three-Year-Old Male. He was joined by Artie’s Storm, the winner of the Ontario Sire Heritage Series, finale the Lake Ontario Stakes.

God of Love broke his maiden in the Cup and Saucer Stakes, leading to a Champion Two-Year-Old nod alongside Ironstone who posted a 2-3-0 record in six starts, including two stakes wins at Woodbine.

Champion Three-Year-Old Female saw Munnyfor Ro, and Lorena nominated. Munnyfor Ro was 4-2-2 in 10 starts and won the Woodbine Oaks, and the Wonder Where Stakes. Lorena won two of the three Ontario Sire Heritage Series races and earned over $225,000.

Two-Year-Old Filly Moira made a dazzling debut, breaking her maiden in the Princess Elizabeth Stakes by four and a half lengths to receive a nomination.

OLDER HORSES

Amalfi Coast received the most nominations of any Ontario bred, getting nods in Champion Older Female Main Track, Champion Female Turf Horse, and Champion Female Sprinter. Her five-year-old campaign was highlighted by winning the Ontario Fashion Stakes on Breeders Stakes day at Woodbine.

The 2021 Canadian Horse of the Year, Mighty Heart, continued to roll in his four-year-old campaign. The Champion Older Male Main Track nominee won two graded stakes race at Woodbine and earned over $377,000.

Champion Male Turf Horse was swept by Ontario breds.

Town Cruise earned over $700,000 thanks to a win in the $1 million Ricoh Woodbine Mile. Silent Poet won the $350,000 Highlander Stakes, as an 11-1 shot. Avie’s Flatter posted a 3-0-0 record in five starts and also earned a nomination in the Champion Male Sprinter division.

HORSEPEOPLE AWARDS

Include Katherine was nominated for Outstanding Broodmare, and Ontario farms Adena Springs, Tall Oaks Farms, and Sam-Son Farms swept the Outstanding breeder category.

Ontario’s Kevin Attard and Josie Carroll were nominated for Outstanding Trainer, alongside 14-time winner Mark Casse.

Click here for the full list of 2021 Nominees.