Uncaptured named Canada’s top thoroughbred at Sovereign awards event
Posted Apr 19, 2013 11:30:04 PM.
This article is more than 5 years old.
TORONTO – Uncaptured and his handlers were the winners Friday night at the Sovereign Awards.
The son of 2004 Kentucky Derby runner-up Lion Heart was named Canadian thoroughbred racing’s top horse of 2012 and the country’s champion two-year-old male. As well, conditioner Mark Casse captured outstanding trainer honours while John Oxley received the top owner trophy during the Sovereign Awards banquet at Woodbine Racetrack.
Uncaptured won six-of-seven starts in 2012, including five stakes races. He claimed top horse honours ahead of Hunters Bay and Strait of Dover.
A March foal, Uncaptured was purchased by Oxley for $290,000 out of the 2011 Keeneland September yearling auction.
Hunters Bay and Strait of Dover didn’t go home empty-handed.
Hunters Bay, a five-year-old owned by Frank Stronach of Aurora, Ont., that was second in the Woodbine Mile, was named the champion older male ahead of finalists Taylor Said and Pender Harbour. Queen’s Plate winner Strait of Dover claimed champion three-year-old-male honours, with Delegation and Toccetive as the runners-up.
Roxy Gap and Irish Mission were also double winners. Roxy Gap was named champion older female and champion female sprinter while Irish Mission received the award as champion female turf horse and champion three-year-old filly.
For the second straight year, Mexican rider Luis Contreras was named Canada’s top jockey, edging seven-time recipient Patrick Husbands of Brampton, Ont., for the honour. Contreras was Woodbine’s top rider in 2012 with 195 victories and just under $9.3 million in earnings. Husbands was second in wins (167) and prize money ($9.127 million) despite having 266 fewer mounts than Contreras.
Casse also finished as Woodbine’s top trainer, his horses finishing in the money 248 times (including a leading 94 victories) in 460 starts. Casse-conditioned starters amassed earnings surpassing $6.8 million.
Finalists for the award included Reade Baker and Troy Taylor.
Scott Williams was named the top apprentice hockey while William D. Graham received the top breeder award.
