Uncaptured , a contender on the Triple Crown Trail until his 10th-place finish in the Toyota Blue Grass Stakes (gr. I), was honored April 19 as Canada's 2012 Horse of the Year during the Sovereign Awards ceremony at Woodbine in Toronto.
The Sovereign Awards, honoring achievements in Canadian racing, are presented by The Jockey Club of Canada.
A 2010 son of Lion Heart who won six of his seven outings, including the 2012 Kentucky Jockey Club Stakes (gr. II) for trainer Mark Casse and owner John C. Oxley, Uncaptured outpolled Hunters Bay and Strait of Dover for Horse of the Year honors. Uncaptured also was honored as top 2-year-old male, while Casse and Oxley took the awards in their respective categories.
Stronach Stables' Hunters Bay was honored as champion older male and Queen's Plate winner Strait of Dover was top 3-year-old male.
Two female runners were honored with two Sovereign Awards each. Roxy Gap was named champion older female and champion female sprinter, while Irish Mission received the award as champion female turf horse and top 3-year-old filly.
For the second straight year, Luis Contreras was named Canada's top jockey. Contreras was Woodbine's top rider in 2012 with 195 victories and nearly $9.3 million in earnings.
Scott Williams was named the top apprentice jockey and William D. Graham was outstanding breeder.
2012 Sovereign Award Winners:
Uncaptured, Horse of the Year/2-Year-Old Male
Spring in the Air, 2-Year-Old Filly
Irish Mission, 3-Year-Old Filly/Female Turf Horse
Strait of Dover, 3-Year-Old Male
Older Male Horse, Hunters Bay
Roxy Gap, Older Female/Female Sprinter
Essence Hit Man, Male Sprinter
Riding the River, Male Turf Horse
Luis Contreras, Jockey
Scott Williams, Apprentice Jockey
Mark Casse, Trainer
John C. Oxley, Owner
William Graham, Breeder
Misty Mission, Broodmare
Michael Burns, Photograph
Denise Ryan, Writing
Horse Racing Alberta and Whiteiron Productions, Digital Audio/Visual and Broadcast
