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 Atlantic—Song 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 Selkirk—Frangy (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 Slam—Padmore (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 Daddy—Poppy'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 Harbor—Beer 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
The connections of Up With the Birds celebrate his Horse of the Year honor.
Michael Burns