Starship Nterprise Lights Up The Board In Martha Washington

HALLANDALE BEACH, FL – Starship Stables and trainer Steve Dwoskin’s Starship Nterprise rallied from well off the early pace to score a 33/1 upset victory in Saturday’s $75,000 Martha Washington Stakes at Gulfstream Park.

The 3-year-old daughter of Honor Code, who defeated older $50,000 maidens to graduate in her ninth career start last time out, surged between horses in late stretch to win by a neck in the mile turf stakes for 3-year-old fillies.

“I’m very surprised,” said Dwoskin, who opted to run the Kentucky-bred filly in the stakes restricted to 3-year-olds rather than give her another chance with older fillies and mares. “It was better to go against 3-year-olds than against older horses.”

Starship Nterprise saved ground while settling off an early pace contested by Hana Lima and Karakatsie during fractions of 24.36 and 48.05 seconds for the first 1/2-mile.

Karakatsie, the 9/5 favorite ridden by Edwin Gonzalez, moved to the lead entering the stretch with Charges Dropped looming as a danger along the rail.

Starship Nterprise, who cut the corner into the stretch, kicked in with a powerful drive between horses to surge late to claim the victory over a firm turf course in 1:36.74 under Miguel Vasquez.

Karakatsie, who finished second behind Con Lima in the May 1 Powder Break Stakes at Gulfstream, held off Charges Dropped by a 1/2-length to finish second.