ETOBICOKE, Ontario – In a tight vote, Starship Jubilee was crowned 2019 Canadian Horse of the Year on Tuesday night during a virtual version of the 45th annual Sovereign Awards, put on by the Jockey Club of Canada. Starship Jubilee, trained by Kevin Attard for Blue Heaven Farm, nosed out the popular sprinter Pink Lloyd in the voting by a point total of 108-105. The voting is done by Canadian racing writers and racing officials. Starship Jubilee and Pink Lloyd both became champions for the third year in a row in a specific category, a feat that was previously accomplished by just four other horses – Carotene, Chief Bearhart, One For Rose, and Overskate. On the strength of her dominating score in the Grade 1 E.P. Taylor, Starship Jubilee was voted champion female turf horse for the third straight time with 170 points. Holy Helena (70) was a distant second, with Amalfi Coast ending up third (35). Trained by Robert Tiller for Entourage Stable, Pink Lloyd captured champion male sprinter honors for the third straight year, by a landslide margin (180) over Silent Poet (43) and Yorkton (27). Pink Lloyd, who was unbeaten in six stakes starts in 2019, also won his second Sovereign for champion older male main-track runner (134), beating out Mr. Ritz (85) and Special Forces (52). Pink Lloyd was Canada’s Horse of the Year and champion older male in 2017. :: To stay up to date, follow us on: Facebook | Instagram | Twitter Grade 1 Woodbine Mile victor El Tormenta, who finished third in the Horse of the Year voting with 53 points, took the champion male turf horse category (170) over Tiz a Slam (78) and Global Access (23). Global Access, a three-time Grade 3 winner, edged out Tone Broke 141-125 for champion male 3-year-old. Explode was third (40). For champion 3-year-old filly, Woodbine Oaks winner Desert Ride prevailed by a 133-110 margin over Amalfi Coast, with Hidden Grace well back in third (28). Grade 2 Royal North winner Summer Sunday (152) garnered champion female sprinter honors over the hard-luck Amalfi Coast (82), Here’s Hannah (23), and Sister Peacock (23). Here’s Hannah, victorious in 5 of 6 stakes starts last year at Hastings, won for champion older main-track female. She nosed out Lift Up by a 132-128 margin, with She’s the Berries third (36). The unbeaten sprinter Mr. Hustle (122) won for champion male 2-year-old, finishing ahead of Muskoka Gold (95) and Dotted Line (64). The champion 2-year-old filly category was predictably close, going to Grade 3 Mazarine winner Curlin’s Voyage (115). She defeated the unbeaten Hastings runner Infinite Patience (100) and Owlette (42). Mark Casse won his 12th Sovereign Award for outstanding trainer, beating out Kevin Attard and Norm McKnight. Casse led the 2019 Woodbine standings in money won and was second to McKnight in wins. The retired Eurico Da Silva took home honors for outstanding jockey for the seventh time, over Rafael Hernandez and Patrick Husbands. Da Silva was Woodbine’s leading rider last year in both money won and victories. Kazushi Kimura won his second consecutive Sovereign for outstanding apprentice. He also received the 2019 Eclipse Award for North America’s top apprentice during the winter. Sam-Son Farm, the owner-breeder of El Tormenta and Desert Ride, was voted outstanding owner and outstanding breeder. Outstanding broodmare, a lifetime award, went to Loving Vindication, dam of 2018 Canadian Horse of the Year Wonder Gadot and Grade 1 winner Hard Not to Love. Michael “Fuzzy” Williams was named outstanding groom. Successful tournament player Paul Shurman was named outstanding handicapper. The media award winners were Michael R. Bye (photograph), Dave Briggs (writing), and Woodbine Entertainment (digital audio/visual and broadcast). Charles Fipke was selected by the JCC stewards as the recipient of the E.P. Taylor Award of Merit, which honors those who have accomplished outstanding individual achievements and have made a significant contribution to the industry in Canada. Fipke has bred and owned three Sovereign Award winners – 2008 champion male 3-year-old and Queen’s Plate winner Not Bourbon; 2010 champion older female Impossible Time; and 2003 champion male turf horse Perfect Soul, who is the sire of the Fipke-owned Perfect Shirl, victorious in the 2011 Breeders’ Cup Filly and Mare Turf. Harvey Warner was bestowed the Special Sovereign Award that recognizes significant contribution to the industry. Actively involved in Manitoba racing since 1971, Warner is currently the president of the Manitoba Jockey Club and a steward in the JCC.