Standardbred Canada Announces Finalists For 2020 O’Brien Awards – Horse Racing News

Standardbred Canada is happy to announce the finalists for the 2020 O’Brien Awards, which honor Canada’s finest in harness racing over the previous season. There are two finalists in every class, which incorporates 12 divisional horse classes and 5 folks awards. Horse of the 12 months can be one of many divisional champions.

The winners can be introduced on the Digital O’Brien Awards Gala on Sunday, Jan. 31 on standardbredcanada.ca.

This may mark the thirty second version of the O’Brien Awards, named in honor of the late Joe O’Brien, an impressive horseman and member of the Canadian Horse Racing Corridor of Fame.

Richard Moreau can be trying so as to add a report eighth O’Brien trophy to his mantle within the Coach of the 12 months Class and is up in opposition to Ben Baillargeon of Guelph, Ont., a first-time nominee.

Baillargeon is having fun with a career-best season, coaching horses that posted 123 victories and banked greater than $2.9 million in earnings together with O’Brien finalist PL Jill within the Older Trotting Mare class.

Richard Moreau of Puslinch, Ont. has earned seven consecutive titles as Canada’s Coach of the 12 months. Thus far in 2020, he has despatched 236 winners postward and skilled horses to greater than $3.6 million in earnings together with O’Brien finalist Lit De Rose within the Older Pacing Mare Class. Moreau, one of many nation’s busiest trainers with greater than 1,582 races to his credit score, has topped the Canadian earnings charts for trainers for a number of years and was the main cash incomes coach at Woodbine Mohawk Park and Georgian Downs throughout 2020.

Bob McClure and Doug McNair, the highest two money-earning drivers within the nation are the Driver of the 12 months finalists.

Bob McClure of Rockwood, Ont., is en path to a career-best season within the earnings column, and is the main cash profitable driver in Canada. He not too long ago eclipsed the $7 million mark, a formidable addition to his resume and has additionally made 229 journeys to the winner’s circle. McClure, a finalist on this class in 2016, 2018 and 2019.was the common driver for 5 O’Brien finalists – Donna Soprano, Lauras Love, Lawless Shadow, Macho Martini and Tattoo Artist. McClure was additionally the winner of the celebrated Lampman Cup because the Ontario Sires Stakes’ main driver this previous season.

The winner of Driver of the 12 months honors in 2017, Doug McNair of Guelph, Ont. is having one in all his finest years with 283 winners and greater than $6.2 million in earnings. He was the common reinsman for 2 O’Brien finalists – 3-12 months-Previous[1] Pacing Filly Karma Seelster and 3-12 months-Previous Trotting Filly, Warrawee Vicky.

Gilles Barrieau and Kelly Hoerdt are the finalists for the O’Brien Award of Horsemanship and are each previous winners on this class.

Two-time Horsemanship winner and defending champion, Gilles Barrieau of Saint John, N.B., competes on the Atlantic Provinces circuit and up to now this season, he is skilled 44 winners and horses to greater than $227,000 in purse earnings whereas boasting a UTRS of .552. On the driving facet, he has 170 winners and greater than $485,000 in earnings, giving him a .411 UDRS.

Kelly Hoerdt of Beaumont, Alta., gained the Horsemanship Award in 2013. This 12 months, the Alberta-based trainer-driver has skilled 152 winners and horses to greater than $860,000 in earnings, whereas driving 163 winners and horses that earned greater than $895,000.

So A lot Extra dominated the Fillies & Mares Most well-liked Ranks at Woodbine Mohawk Park, profitable 12 of 30 begins and eclipsing $300,000 in earnings throughout her season.

Caviart Audrey and Scarlett Hanover, each daughters of Bettors Delight, are the nominees within the 2-12 months-Previous Pacing Filly division. Caviart Audrey gained 5 of 9 races and greater than $372,000 in her rookie marketing campaign which included victories within the Everlasting Camnation, Champlain, an elimination and last of the Shes A Nice Woman.

Scarlett Hanover posted 11 top-three finishes from 14 begins and earned greater than $449,000. She gained two Ontario Sires Stakes occasions together with the Tremendous Last and in addition competed in opposition to Grand Circuit firm, scoring a season’s finest 1:51.3 victory within the Champlain Stakes and profitable an elimination of the Shes A Nice Woman.

A pair of Shadow Play colts, Bulldog Hanover and Lawless Shadow, are the finalists within the 2-12 months-Previous Pacing Colt division.

Bulldog Hanover gained 4 of six races, all Ontario Sires Stakes occasions together with the season ending Tremendous Last and greater than $248,000 in 2020.

Lawless Shadow hit the board in eight of 9 races, together with 4 wins in his rookie marketing campaign and topped $307,000 in purse earnings. He scored two victories in Ontario Sires Stakes occasions, a win within the Nassagaweya, runner-up finishes in a Metro elimination and OSS Tremendous Last and a third-place end within the Metro Last.

Within the 3-12 months-Previous Pacing Filly division, Ontario-breds Lauras Love and Karma Seelster will compete for O’Brien honors.

Unraced as a 2-year-old, the Betterthancheddar filly, Lauras Love was a mannequin of consistency in 2020, scoring 16 top-three finishes, together with eight victories from 20 races, and incomes $331,000 for her connections. Along with a victory in an Ontario Sires Stakes occasion, she scored a number of victories in in a single day competitors and in addition gained a division of the Simcoe in opposition to Grand Circuit firm.

The Sportswriter filly Karma Seelster had three wins and 9 high three finishes in 15 races and earned greater than $277,000. She added a win in an Ontario Sires Stakes Gold occasion and a sweep of the Standardbred Breeders and Homeowners Affiliation Stake (SBOA) to her resume.

Main Custard and Tattoo Artist are the 3-12 months-Previous Pacing Colt finalists.

Main Custard was virtually invincible this season, profitable 15 of 16 races and incomes greater than $237,000 whereas competing on the Western Provinces Circuit which included Fraser Downs in B.C. and Century Downs and Century Mile in Alberta. The Alberta-bred son of Custard The Dragon scored victories within the Alberta Sires Stakes, the Ralph Klein, the Maverick, the Robert Murphy Stakes, the Western Canada Pacing Derby and the Brad Gunn Stake.

Tattoo Artist, a son of Hes Watching, gained eight of 17 begins and greater than $666,000 this season with victories in 5 Ontario Sires Stakes occasions, and a division of the Simcoe Stakes. Considered one of his largest efforts was a runner-up end within the $1 million North America Cup.

Lit De Rose and So A lot Extra are finalists within the Older Pacing Mare class.

Lit De Rose boasted 14 top-three finishes from 18 begins and earned greater than $169,000. Primarily a Fillies & Mares Most well-liked campaigner, the daughter of Chief Bayama scored a formidable runner-up end within the Milton Stake Last.

So A lot Extra dominated the Fillies & Mares Most well-liked Ranks at Woodbine Mohawk Park, profitable 12 of 30 begins and eclipsing $300,000 in earnings throughout her season. On July 25, she scored a profession finest 1:49.3 lifetime finest at Woodbine Mohawk Park and put collectively a three-race win streak in October.

Century Farroh and Sintra are the Older Pacing Horse finalists.

Century Farroh is in search of his second consecutive O’Brien trophy, after being voted Canada’s 3-12 months-Previous Pacing Colt of the 12 months in 2019. Competing as a four-year-old, the son of Mach Three scored 12 top-three finishes in 16 begins and greater than $637,000 in earnings. His stakes victories included the Breeders Crown and the Dan Patch.

Sintra can also be seeking to safe his second O’Brien trophy on this class after profitable it in 2017. In 2020 the son of Mach Three scored 15 top-three finishes, together with 9 wins, in 22 begins and bankrolled $249,531 for his connections. Competing primarily within the Most well-liked ranks at Woodbine Mohawk Park, he most not too long ago scored three consecutive wins at Mohawk.

Donna Soprano and Imextraspecial will compete for 2-12 months-Previous Trotting Filly honors. Donna Soprano gained 5 of seven races and greater than $575,000 for her connections which included sweeps of the Pure Ivory and Peaceable Means Stakes, a win in a Champlain division and a formidable runner-up end within the inaugural version of the Mohawk Million.

Imextraspecial gained 5 of 10 races and greater than $223,000 in her rookie marketing campaign, which was highlighted by 5 victories in Ontario Sires Stakes occasions.

Within the 2-12 months-Previous Trotting Colt division, stablemates Macho Martini and On A Streak are the finalists. Skilled by Luc Blais for Willpower of Montreal, Que., these two colts topped the rookie trotting colt charts in 2020. The Muscle Mass colt Macho Martini was a winner of eight of 11 begins and $454,000, scoring victories in 4 Ontario Sires Stakes occasions, the Millard Farm elimination and last, a Champlain division and an elimination of the William Wellwood Memorial Stake.

On A Streak had solely two wins in 10 begins, however they had been each very profitable ones. His maiden-breaking effort got here within the $525,000 William Wellwood Stakes which was value $267,500 and a spot within the inaugural Mohawk Million, the place he completed a stable third. His second victory got here within the Breeders Crown, and was value $300,000. In whole the Cantab Corridor colt earned in extra of $850,000 for his season which additionally included a runner-up end within the Valley Victory.

Sorella and Warrawee Vicky are the finalists within the 3-12 months-Previous Trotting Filly division.

Sorella gained eight of 15 races and $737,000 together with victories within the Reynolds, the Hambletonian Oaks, the Informal Breeze, the Bluegrass and the Matron.

Warrawee Vicky scored 4 wins in 12 begins and banked greater than $230,000. Three of these wins got here within the Ontario Sires Stakes occasions and the fourth was in a Simcoe division.

Pemberton and Prepared For Moni will compete for 3-12 months-Previous Trotting Colt honors.

Pemberton, a son of Wheeling N Dealin, gained eight of 10 races and earned greater than $363,000 for his sophomore season. 4 of his victories got here in Ontario Sires Stakes occasions together with the season-ending Tremendous Last.

The aptly-named Prepared For Moni boasted a bankroll in extra of $646,000 for his sophomore season which included 5 wins in 11 begins. His season was highlighted by a sweep of the Goodtimes, victories within the Zweig Memorial and Stanley Dancer, and a runner-up end within the Hambletonian.

Within the Older Trotting Mare class, Hey Livvy and PL Jill are the finalists.

Hey Livvy gained 9 races and greater than $278,000 in 22 journeys postward, highlighted by her richest payday, a formidable victory within the Armbro Flight.

PL Jill was a constant performer within the Most well-liked trotting ranks at Woodbine Mohawk Park, profitable 9 of 25 begins and banking greater than $241,000. Her largest payday got here within the Earl Rowe Stake the place she obtained up for a head victory.

On The Ropes and Perfetto are finalists within the Older Trotting Horse Class.

On The Ropes gained six races and $142,000 throughout his five-year-old marketing campaign and all of his 34 begins came about at Woodbine Mohawk Park.

Perfetto gained seven of 24 races and $149,000 whereas additionally making all however one begin at Mohawk.

This 12 months marks the eighth 12 months for the Future Star Award, with two P.E.I. natives competing as finalists. Rachel Andrew, of Dundas, Ont., and Austin Sorrie who resides in Freelton, Ont., each posted some spectacular stats this season.[2]

Andrew, skilled 51 winners and horses to greater than $434,000 in earnings in simply her third 12 months of full-time coaching.

This marks the second consecutive 12 months that Sorrie is a finalist on this class. The younger reinsman was in demand on the Ontario B Monitor circuit in 2020, driving in additional than 1,155 races, scoring 143 wins and driving horses to greater than $874,000 in purse earnings.

Seelster Farms and Warrawee Farm are finalists within the Armstrong Breeder of the 12 months Class.

Three-time Breeder of the 12 months Seelster Farms of Lucan, Ont., gained this award in 2006, 2013, and 2018.

In 2020, horses bred by Seelster gained 239 races and earned greater than $3.3 million. Prime performers included O’Brien finalists Lawless Shadow and Karma Seelster together with Tokyo Seelster.

Horses bred by Rockwood, Ont.-based Warrawee Farm gained 41 races and earned greater than $1 million in 2020, together with O’Brien finalist Warrawee Vicky. Different high performers included Warrawee Important and Warrawee Ubeaut.

One of many winners within the divisional classes can be awarded the Somebeachsomewhere Horse of the 12 months title.

The winners can be introduced on the 2020 Digital O’Brien Awards Gala on Sunday, Jan. 31, 2021, which can be video streamed on standardbredcanada.ca.

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