Starship Jubilee Much the Best in Nassau Stakes

A tale of two emotions played out during the $175,000 Nassau Stakes (G2T) at Woodbine May 27, as the ascent of former claimer Starship Jubilee was juxtaposed against concern for the well-being of 2015 Canadian Horse of the Year Catch a Glimpse, who collapsed during the race after severely bleeding.

Starship Jubilee, who was claimed twice at the start of the year for $16,000 each time, unleashed a big turn of foot down the middle of the lane to catch 2016 Canadian Horse of the Year Caren and earn her first graded stakes win. It was her first attempt against elevated company, and also gave her Ohio-based sire, Indy Wind, his first graded victor. 

While the connections of Starship Jubilee beamed over the 2 1/2-length triumph the 4-year-old bay filly registered, thoughts also went out to grade 1 winner Catch a Glimpse, who faltered sharply just past the half-mile mark and was being pulled up by jockey Florent Geroux before falling at the seven-sixteenths pole. Trainer Mark Casse said the 4-year-old daughter of City Zip   suffered a combination of heat stroke and bleeding, according to the attending veterinarian, but was resting comfortably in her stall hours after the race.

"Very scary," said Casse, who added that Catch a Glimpse had never previously bled.

The one-mile Nassau was being billed as showdown between Caren and Catch a Glimpse, the last two Sovereign Award winners for Horse of the Year. While those two raced side by side early on, before Caren assumed command, the upstart Starship Jubilee was racing at the back of the seven-horse field, as the former set fractions of :24.55 and :48.85. 

Caren still held a clear advantage as she reached the final turn. By that point, however, jockey Eurico Rosa Da Silva angled Starship Jubilee past the ailing Catch a Glimpse and had a ton of horse to work with as they advanced down the three-path, something the veteran rider said had him bursting with confidence as he settled in for the stretch run.

"You know she broke so hard, she actually had a big stumble, but some bad turned to good," Da Silva said. "I saw the other horses were being used and I was just in a gallop. She was really waiting for me to turn her loose."

Once given her cue by Da Silva, Starship Jubilee accelerated with huge strides past the weakening pacesetter to her inside and hit the wire in 1:36.86 over a yielding course, as Involuntary put in a solid run in her own right to get up for place honors over Stormy Victoria. Caren faded to fourth.

When Tino Attard, father of trainer Kevin Attard, put in the claim slip for $16,000 for Starship Jubilee prior to her second-place run going 7 1/2 furlongs on the Gulfstream Park turf Feb. 12, it marked the second time in as many outings the filly changed hands. She was previously claimed out of a winning effort at Gulfstream Jan. 4 by trainer Jorge Navarro. Since joining Kevin Attard's barn, the Florida-bred turf distaffer has found her best form, winning four straight races including her Nassau triumph.

"She had a couple really fantastic breezes coming in," said Kevin Attard, who co-owns Starship Jubilee along with Soli Mehta. "I know we were an underdog, but I was very confident going into it. After her last win, her confidence was riding high. She's been perfect at the mile distance for us, so it made sense to try this spot. I just hope Catch a Glimpse is OK."

Southern Gem came home fifth in the Nassau, while Shelbysmile was eased across the wire and walked off. Starship Jubilee paid $22.90, $11.70, and $5.70 across the board.

Bred by William Sorren, out of the Forest Wildcat mare Perfectly Wild, Starship Jubilee improved her record to seven wins from 13 starts with $204,839 in earnings.