Starship Jubilee Named Horse of the Year in Canada

Blue Heaven Farm's Starship Jubilee took home the award for Canadian Horse of the Year and champion female turf horse May 19 in The Jockey Club of Canada's 45th annual Sovereign Awards ceremony. Due to the impact of COVID-19, the ceremony was held via virtual presentation Tuesday night with the top three finalists in each category decided by online ballot. 

Bred in Florida by William P. Sorren out of the Forest Wildcat mare Perfectly Wild, the daughter of Indy Wind recorded three victories in 2019 from seven starts capped by a score in the E. P. Taylor Stakes (G1T) at Woodbine for trained Kevin Attard. This is also the third consecutive year that Starship Jubilee, who earned her Horse of the Year title with 108 votes, has been awarded Canadian honors as champion turf female (170 votes). 

"It feels amazing," said Adam Corndorf of Blue Heaven Farm. "It's the first horse we've had in Canada, so we're 1-for-1. I want to thank everyone who voted for us. We obviously have to give all the credit to two people: Kevin Attard, our great trainer and great friend who has done wonders with her, and my mom, Bonnie Baskin, who had the confidence in us to buy this mare and give it a go. It's been an incredible ride.

"Last year we had an unbelievable year. It's brought so much joy to my family. At some of her races we've had four generations there, and we've been producing memories that my family will have for the rest of our lives." 

Starship Jubilee was claimed by Attard in 2017 for US$16,000 from Gulfstream Park. Her 2019 earnings came to US$604,929 and her career mark stands at 17-5-3 from 35 starts with earnings of US$1,498,667. 

"We were debating ahead of this year if we would hang it up or keep going," said Corndorf. "But you go a lifetime to find a horse like this and most importantly, Kevin said she was sound and happy and enjoying doing what she was doing. She had success in two races at Gulfstream this year and then at Tampa (Bay Downs). She's getting a little break now but we're planning on coming back to Woodbine later this year and we're hoping to have a big year. Our goal is the Breeders' Cup. There is a tremendous number of incredible turf fillies out there, but we will take our shot against anyone." 

Another runner to bring home two awards Tuesday night was Entourage Stable's Pink Lloyd, who claimed the titles of champion older main track male (134 votes) and champion male sprinter (180 votes).

Trained by Robert Tiller, the gelded son of Old Forester won six of his seven starts in 2019, all of which were stakes. Pink Lloyd upheld his reigning title as winner of Woodbine's Vigil Stakes (G3), the Jacques Cartier Stakes (G3), and the OLG Kenora Stakes Presented by HBPA of Ontario—each for the third year in a row. He also won the Kennedy Road Stakes (G2) and Shepperton Stakes for the second time, both races he first won in 2017. His total earnings for 2019 came to US$376,975. 

Bred in Ontario by John Carey out of the Great Gladiator mare Gladiator Queen, Pink Lloyd was named Canadian Horse of the Year in 2017. He was also named champion male sprinter and champion older horse in 2017 and again champion male sprinter in 2018. 

Trainer Mark Casse (142 votes) picked up his 12th Sovereign Award win as outstanding trainer. For the past decade Casse has dominated the Canadian racing landscape and again led all trainers in purse earnings, collecting CA$5.1 million from 92 victories including 12 stakes wins.

Among his most notable Canadian performers this year were 2019 Sovereign Award finalists Muskoka Gold, winner of the Cup and Saucer Stakes, and She's the Berries, who took the Classy 'n Smart Stakes. Additional stakes winners Speedy Soul, Miss Mo Mentum, and Power Gal also contributed to Casse's continued success.

Sam-Son Farm was awarded both outstanding breeder (121 votes) and outstanding owner (117 votes) for 2019. A 10-time winner in category of breeder, Sam-Son horses won a staggering 44 races in 2019. The farm was was represented by seven stakes horses including 2019 champion male turf horse El Tormenta, who took the Ricoh Woodbine Mile Stakes (G1T); Desert Ride, winner of the 2019 Woodbine Oaks Presented by Budweiser and the champion 3-year-old female; and Cleopatra's Strike, who won the John Henry Turf Championship (G2T).

Sam-Son's title as outstanding owner is the 12th award for the farm in the category. The operation won 13 races in Canada in 2019 including five stakes. Their homebred stakes victors include El Tormenta, Desert Ride, who won two-thirds of the Triple Tiara, and Zadracarta Stakes winner Desert Isle.

Charles Fipke received the E. P. Taylor Award of Merit honoring the horseman's unique ability to source and nurture well-bred horses into exceptional winners. Fipke, who grew up in Kelowna, British Columbia, has an ever-expanding stable of homebreds who have won at the top-levels of competition around the world. 

With the help of statistics and trusted advisors, Fipke chooses the matings for his horses himself and has been incredibly successful in breeding dozen of winners and champions including Perfect Soul, Canada's champion turf male of 2003 and sire of Emirates Airline Breeders' Cup Filly & Mare Turf (G1T) winner Perfect Shirl. He has bred and developed top stallions and his current stable includes grade 1 winner Seeking the Soul. 

When asked about the secret behind his success, Fipke said it all comes down to hard work and a little luck.

"I just work away at things and sometimes they come out," said Fipke. "Usually if you try your best at things and work hard at them, you're well-rewarded. It's a great honor to be a Sovereign Award winner. E. P. Taylor was an idol who bred Northern Dancer, and what can you say? He's the best stallion that ever lived. It's just a great honor. Thank you."

The award for outstanding jockey went to Eurico Da Silva (182 votes). The victory is his seventh in this category for the Brazilian-born champion who retired at the end of 2019. Da Silva's wins last year include stakes victories in the Woodbine Mile aboard El Tormenta. He was the regular rider of multiple stakes winner Pink Lloyd as well as Amalfi Coast, a finalist in three 2019 Sovereign Award categories.

Outstanding apprentice jockey went to Kazushi Kimura (182 votes) who also won the 2019 Eclipse Award for North America's outstanding apprentice of 2019. Before his apprenticeship ended on Oct. 26, 2019, Kazushi won 117 races and ended the season as a journeyman with an impressive 148 wins, landing as Woodbine's third leading rider. 

El Tormenta took home the award for champion male turf horse (170 votes). A Sam-Son Farm homebred, the son of Stormy Atlantic recorded two wins and one second in 2019 on his way to earning US$692,298. Trained by Gail Cox, he was bred in Ontario out of the El Prado mare Torreadora. 

B C Stables' homebred Here's Hannah was awarded champion older main track female (132 votes). The Numaany mare won five of her six starts in 2019 with her best score coming in the Ballerina Stakes (G3). Trained by John Morrison, the mare was bred in British Columbia out of the A Fleets Dancer mare Dreams Start Here. 

Anne and William Scott's Silent Name  filly Summer Sunday (152 votes) was named champion female sprinter. Trained by Stuart Simon, she won three of her six 2019 starts including the Royal North Stakes (G2T). She was bred in Ontario by Trinity West Stables out of the Millennium Allstar mare Dancing Allstar. 

Champion 3-year-old male for 2019 is Global Access (141 votes), a Live Oak Plantation homebred trained by Michael Trombetta. Out of the Black Sam Bellamy mare Daveron, the Florida-bred son of the late Giant's Causeway took home wins in the Ontario Derby (G3), Saranac Stakes (G3T), and Marine Stakes (G3). 

Sam-Son hombred Desert Ride (133 votes) was named champion 3-year-old female. The Candy Ride  filly is trained by Neil Howard and won four of her seven starts in 2019. She is out of the Distorted Humor  mare Fun in the Desert. 

Champion 2-year-old male went to William Werner's Mr. Hustle, a Declaration of War gelding trained by Roger Attfield. Bred in Kentucky by V. Gail Ray out of the More Than Ready  mare Ready Ready Ready, Mr. Hustle (122 votes) won the Soaring Free Stakes on the turf and Victoria Stakes on the dirt at Woodbine. 

Hill 'n' Dale Equine Holdings and Windsor Boys Racing's Curlin's Voyage (115 votes) was awarded champion 2-year-old female. The filly was bred in Ontario by Hill 'n' Dale out of the Stormy Atlantic mare Atlantic Voyage. Her best score of 2019 came in the Mazarine Stakes (G3)  in October for trainer Josie Carroll. 

Anderson Farms' Loving Vindication was awarded broodmare of the year (135 votes). A finalist in this category multiple times, the Vindication mare has become one of Canada's most successful broodmares early in her career. From her three foals to race, Loving Vindication's grade 1-winning daughter, Hard Not to Love, won the La Brea Stakes. She is also the dam of 2018 Horse of the Year and Queen's Plate winner Wonder Gadot. 

Harvey Warner earned the Special Sovereign Award for his role as a major player in the revival of Assiniboia Downs. Warner currently serves as a Jockey Club of Canada steward. 

The outstanding groom award went to Michael Williams who has worked with some of Woodbine's top owners and trainers in Canada including Stronach Stables, Dan Vella, and Mike Doyle. Outstanding Handicapper went to New York resident Paul Shurman, a long-time member of the NHC Players' Committee.

In the media categories, Michael Bye won the award for outstanding photograph for his photo of Cyclone Dan. Dave Briggs was awarded for outstanding writing for his piece 'Royal Victory for the Quintessential "Small Guy"' in Canadian Thoroughbred Magazine. Woodbine Entertainment took the award for outstanding digital audio/visual & broadcast for their coverage of the Queen's Plate.