TORONTO, ON – Blue Heaven Farm’s Starship Jubilee truly bested the seven boys who dared face her in Saturday’s $1 million Ricoh Woodbine Mile (G1).
The Woodbine Mile is a Breeders’ Cup “Win and You’re In” event, with Starship Jubilee receiving an automatic berth in the FanDuel Mile Presented by the PDJF at Keeneland this November.
Starship Jubilee was sent away from post 4 under Justin Stein as the 5/1 fourth choice and settled into a mid-pack stalking position.
Admiralty Pier went to the lead and set relatively uncontested opening fractions of :23.66 and :46.14 heading into the far turn.
The 2/1 favorite War of Will got the first jump on the pacesetter but seemed to struggle when asked to take the lead, making for a wide-open sprint home.
Starship Jubilee seized command in mid-stretch and drew off under a hand ride. The Kevin Attard trainee crossed 1 length clear in 1:32.06 for the one-turn mile over the firm outer turf.
Credit: Michael Burns Photo
“Sitting inside the 3/8 pole, around the 5/16 pole, I had tons and I waited for a chance to tip her out and ask her to run,” said Stein, who was aboard for the first time. “She’s so honest and wants to win more than anybody else out there. I watched her replays… she’s just gritty. She just waited for her cue and took off like a scalded cat. She was gone.”
Trainer Mark Casse filled out second through fourth, with the 5/2 second choice March to the Arch closing from last to finish second by 3/4 of a length over War of Will, himself a head in front of their stablemate Olympic Runner.
Armistice Day, Admiralty Pier, Shirl’s Speight, and Value Proposition completed the order of finish.
Starship Jubilee’s win was her fifth of the year and her second at the uppermost echelon of racing, having won last October’s E. P. Taylor Stakes (G1) while going 1 1/4 miles over this same course. The Florida-bred 7-year-old Indy Wind mare – an RNA for $425,000 at the end of 2018 – improved her stellar record to 38-19-5-3 with $2,093,069 earned.
“Just an unbelievable feeling,” Attard said. “This mare doesn’t get the respect she deserves. She’s a winner of 19 races out of 38 starts. I was really disappointed to see her at 6/1 on the board… just kind of forgotten about. Time after time, she comes up and proves that she’s a top horse in North America.”
Starship Jubilee returned $13.50 to win, $5.40 to place, and $3.10 to show. March to the Arch brought back $4 to place and $2.60 to show, while War of Will paid $2.60 to show.
