Starship Jubilee Outshines All in Hillsborough Stakes
Image:
Description:
Photo: SV Photography
Starship Jubilee wins the Hillsborough Stakes at Tampa Bay Downs
Making her 35th start and her first trip to Tampa Bay Downs, Blue Heaven Farm's Starship Jubilee gave the fans what they wanted and put on a show March 7, taking the $225,000 Hillsborough Stakes (G2T).
"She's aging just like a fine wine. She's a woman coming into herself," said trainer Kevin Attard, who claimed the Indy Wind mare for $16,000 during her 4-year-old season. "She's 7 but she's been healthy, and I think it's great for the sport when you see an older horse like her around and running at the top level. She's got a good following. Every time she wins, I get messages from everywhere."
Longshot Dynatail and jockey Jose Ferrer broke on top in the 1 1/8-mile turf test and clicked through the first quarter-mile in :24.22. Jehozacat, who took the Feb. 8 Lambholm South Endeavor Stakes (G3T) at Tampa, stalked the leader in second as Hanalei Moon, Starship Jubilee, and Magic Star battled it out for third through a half-mile in :48.98.
The heavy favorite in the Hillsborough, Starship Jubilee settled just off the pace under jockey Javier Castellano, trading places with Hanalei Moon and Magic Star before being angled out four wide exiting the backstretch into the far turn. As Dynatail gave way at the top of the stretch and dropped back on the rail, Starship Jubilee found her opening and advanced with a strong kick, but was pressured by Beautiful Lover and jockey Paco Lopez to her outside.
Beautiful Lover, who broke last in the 11-horse field, was shifted toward the rail during the first half-mile but could not find a clear path to the front. Guided out wide by Lopez at the top of the stretch, she managed to catch Starship Jubilee briefly in the lane, but could not keep up as Starship Jubilee drew off to finish 1 1/4 lengths in front. The final time was 1:47.83 on firm turf.
"I had a beautiful trip. I expected to be close to the pace," Castellano said. "This is the type of horse you can do whatever you want—you can dictate the pace, or you can come from behind. She's such a classy horse. I enjoyed the ride, and I'm very fortunate to be part of it. It looks like she is getting better and better and better."
Starship Jubilee's connections accept the Hillsborough Stakes trophy
"I think the key is that she is so tactical," Attard said. "If there is no pace and she needs to be up front, she can be. She used to be a little headstrong, and we've worked on getting her relaxed. She's definitely a lot more settled now, but the fact that she's so versatile on the lead and off the pace just makes her that much more of a formidable opponent. It's such a strength of hers, and it helps so much in these long races where the race can lack pace."
Beautiful Lover held for second, followed by Kelsey's Cross in third and Magic Star in fourth. Get Explicit, Wish Upon, Jehozacat, Lady Oxbow, Hanalei Moon, Dynatail, and Juliana completed the order.
Bred in Florida by William Sorren out of the Forest Wildcat mare Perfectly Wild, Starship Jubilee has won five of her past six starts. She has a 17-5-3 record and $1,498,667 in earnings.
"It's nice to see that people appreciate what she brings each time she runs," Attard said. "She's been a real Cinderella story and exceeded expectations, obviously. It's wonderful to have been a part of it."