Up With the Birds Canadian Horse of the Year

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Sam-Son Farm's homebred Up With the Birds was honored as Canadian Horse of the Year for 2013 at the 39th annual Sovereign Awards held April 11 at Woodbine in Toronto.



A 3-year-old Ontario-bred son of Stormy Atlantic  Song of the Lark, by Seeking the Gold, Up With the Birds had a 4-2-0 record in six starts, with earnings of $973,000 in 2013. All four of Up With the Birds' victories last year were in stakes, highlighted by a win in the Jamaica Handicap (gr. IT) at Belmont Park in October. Trained by Malcolm Pierce, Up With the Birds was also honored as champion 3-year-old male.



Among other Sovereign Award winners, Sam-Son was outstanding breeder for the seventh time and Mark Casse was outstanding trainer for the fifth time and second year in a row. John Oxley was honored for the second year in a row as outstanding owner.



In addition to the awards for outstanding equine and individual achievements, The Jockey Club of Canada also presented media awards, with Alex Campbell taking the outstanding writing award for "Saved For Now," published in The Blood-Horse.



Sovereign Awards for 2013:



Horse of the Year/3-Year-Old Male: Up With the Birds

Colt by Stormy AtlanticSong of the Lark (Seeking the Gold)

Breeder/Owner: Sam-Son Farm (ON)

Trainer: Malcolm Pierce



Older Male: Alpha Bettor

Horse by Alphabet Soup  Scatter Buy (Relaunch)

Breeder: Adena Springs (KY); Owner: Bulldog Racing

Trainer: Daniel Vella



Older Female: Sisterly Love

Mare by Bellamy Road  Odylic (Dixieland Band)

Breeder: Kinsman Farm (KY); Owner: Gary Barber

Trainer: Mark Casse



Turf Male: Forte Dei Marmi

Gelding by SelkirkFrangy (Sadler's Wells)

Breeder: Fittocks Stud (GB); Owner: Stella Perdomo

Trainer: Roger Attfield



Turf Female: Solid Appeal

Filly by Successful Appeal  Star of the Woods (Woodman)

Breeder: Select Bloodstock LLC (KY); Owner: Jim and Susan Hill

Trainer: Reade Baker



3-Year-Old Filly: Leigh Court

Filly by Grand SlamPadmore (French Deputy)

Breeder: Eugene Melnyk (KY); Owner: Melnyk Racing Stables Inc.

Trainer: Josie Carroll



Male Sprinter: Phil's Dream

Gelding by Philanthropist  Dream A Dream (Emperor Jones)  

Breeder: Paul Buttigieg (ON); Owner: Buttigieg Training Centre

Trainer: Paul Buttigieg



Female Sprinter: Youcan'tcatchme

Filly by The DaddyPoppy's Baby Girl (Yankee Victor)

Breeder: Strouds Lane Farm (FL); Owner: Murray Stroud

Trainer: Sam Di Pasquale



2-Year-Old Male: Go Greeley

Colt by Horse Greeley  Orchids Halo (Smoke Glacken)

Breeder: Shannon Farms (ON); Owner: J.R. Racing Stable Inc.

Trainer: John Ross



2-Year-Old Filly: Ria Antonia

Filly by Rockport HarborBeer Baroness (Mr. Greeley)

Breeder: Lynn B. Schiff (KY); Owner: Christopher T. Dunn and Loooch Racing

Trainer: Jeremiah Englehart



Broodmare: Captivating

2002 mare by Arch  Andrea Ruckus (Bold Ruckus)

Breeder: Fred Seitz (ON); Owner: William Graham



Owner: John C. Oxley

Breeder: Sam-Son Farm

Trainer: Mark Casse

Jockey: Eurico Da Silva

Apprentice Jockey: Skye Chernetz