Starship Jubilee Lands Determined E. P. Taylor Score
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Photo: Michael Burns
Starship Jubilee comes home strong to take the E. P. Taylor Stakes at Woodbine
Starship Jubilee continued her upward trajectory Oct. 12 in the CA$603,200 (US457,121) E. P. Taylor Stakes (G1T) at Woodbine.
Off her second consecutive win in the Sept. 14 Canadian Stakes Presented by the Japan Racing Association (G2T), Blue Heaven Farm's 6-year-old Indy Wind mare stalked the pace set by 3-1 choice Red Tea, took control off the turn for home, and was kept to the task by rider Luis Contreras through the stretch en route to her first grade 1 victory. She finished the 1 1/4-mile turf test in 2:03.29 on turf rated good, holding clear by a length over runner-up Durance, who edged Platane by a head.
"She always gives me something, no matter what, at the end," Contreras said. "I got so confident on the last turn. When we straightened away to make a run, she just exploded."
Starship Jubilee was claimed for $16,000 on Attard's behalf by his father and fellow trainer, Tino Attard, at Gulfstream Park in February of 2017. The win was sweet redemption for the Florida-bred's only other start in grade 1 company, a fourth in last year's E P. Taylor.
"It being a mile and a quarter is always tough, but it being a grade 1 and being in our backyard, that kind of helps soften the blow," said trainer Kevin Attard, who collected the first grade 1 of his career as well. "She was so convincing when she won her last start, and she came out of that race in great shape. She's worked really well in the interim and Luis gave her an incredible ride today. I've been fortunate to make some good claims in my career but she's the pinnacle right now. … I want to thank Adam and Bonnie of Blue Heaven Farm for buying her and allowing me to train her."
Red Tea was pressed throughout by Starship Jubilee while taking the field of 10 through an opening quarter-mile in :26.50 and a half in :52.07. Red Tea was still a length to the good after three quarters in 1:17.34, but Starship Jubilee kicked on with a powerful turn of foot to open a two-length advantage in the stretch.
A shot at the Breeders' Cup World Championships could become a reality, according to Attard.
"It might be on the table now," the trainer said..
The E.P. Taylor was the final leg of Woodbine's new Ladies of the Lawn Series, which offers $75,000 in bonuses to the top performers based on points accumulated in designated graded turf routes for fillies and mares. Starship Jubilee led the standings with 34 points after Saturday's race, earning her connections a $50,000 first-place bonus. Holy Helena's fifth-place finish in the E.P. Taylor secured second in the series for a $15,000 bonus). Secret Message, who did not race in the E. P. Taylor, finished third in the series and brought home a $10,000 bonus.
Bred by William P. Sorren out of the Forest Wildcat mare Perfectly Wild, Starship Jubilee was a $425,000 RNA in her last trip through the auction ring at the 2018 Keeneland November Breeding Stock Sale. She improved her record to 14-4-3 with earnings of US$1,138,487.