Mark Casse, Eurico Rosa da Silva the big winners at Sovereign awards banquet

TORONTO – Mark Casse and Eurico Rosa da Silva were the big winners Friday night at the Sovereign Awards.

Casse was named Canadian thoroughbred racing’s top trainer for the second straight year and fifth time overall while Rosa da Silva claimed top jockey honours once again at Woodbine Racetrack.

Casse led all Woodbine trainers last year with 85 wins — he also claimed the Prince of Wales Stakes at Fort Erie, Ont., with Uncaptured. The American amassed over $5.5 million in earnings as his horses finished in the money 193 times in 414 starts.

Casse accumulated 144 votes, finishing ahead of Reade Baker (54), Malcolm Pierce (25) and Nicholas Gonzalez (11).

Rosa da Silva was named the top jockey for the second time after recording 143 wins and over $8.2 million in earnings last year. The Brazilian finished behind Luis Contreras (168) in overall wins, but his 27 stakes victories was the most of any rider in Canada.

Rosa da Silva received 126 votes, well ahead of Contreras (83).

Up With The Birds, a runner-up in the $1-million Queen’s Plate who captured the $500,000 Breeders’ Stakes, the final gem in the Canadian Triple Crown, was named horse of the year. The three-year-old bay colt, owned and bred by Sam-Son Farm, won four times and was second twice over his six starts for $973,000 in earnings.

Up With the Birds was the runaway winner with 113 votes, well ahead of second-place Forte Dei Marmi (52).

Sam-Son was named the top breeder after recording 40 wins over 60 starts and over $3.9 million in earnings. It’s the seventh time Sam-Son has recorded the honour, registering 119 votes to finish ahead of William D. Graham (79), Adena Springs (43) and Chiefswood Stables Ltd. (10).

American John C. Oxley was named top owner for the second straight year after his horses, trained by Casse, won 27 races, including nine stakes events. Oxley received 127 votes to outdistance Sam-Son Farms (62), Bear Stables Ltd. (36) and Tucci Stables (15).