Calder: Starship Truffles cruises in Princess Rooney Handicap

MIAMI - Starship Truffles proved that Grade 1 winners can come from just about anywhere.

One week after winning a $6,250 starter allowance race, Starship Truffles dominated Grade 1 opposition, cruising to a 3 3/4-length victory over the unlucky Judy the Beauty in Saturday’s Princess Rooney Handicap at Calder Race Course.

The Princess Rooney shared top billing on Calder’s Summit of Speed program, which ran in direct conflict with an eight-race card conducted just eight miles away at Gulfstream Park.

Starship Truffles was one of five horses trainer Marty Wolfson ran in the Princess Rooney and gave him his fourth victory in the race. Wolfson’s other four starters finished seventh (Centrique), eighth (Givhans Ferry), ninth (Oh Carole) and 10th (Spectacular Sky).

Starship Truffles, a 4-year-old daughter of Ghostzapper, ran for a $6,250 claiming price one year ago. She was claimed that day by trainer Gerald Procino and then purchased privately by Wolfson for the Chasing Tail Stables after winning a $6,250 starter allowance race ten weeks later. The Princess Rooney was Starship Truffles 12th victory in her last 17 starts and her 11th win in 16 outings at Calder.

Starship Truffles benefited from a perfectly judged ride by apprentice Edgard Zayas, tracking the early leaders while racing three wide before exploding to a clear lead midway on the turn. She was not seriously challenged thereafter.

Trainer Wesley Ward’s Grade 1 jinx continued after his Judy the Beauty steadied back to last after being caught in traffic leaving the gate. To her credit, the even-money favorite did well to finish second despite the unlucky beginning and racing five wide into the stretch. It was another 2 1/2 lengths further back to My Pal Chrisy, who checked home third.

Starship Truffles ran six furlongs in 1:10.57 and paid $18.60.

“I ran her last week just to see if she was okay after her poor effort in the U Can Do It, and when she went 57 and change and 1:04 and three, and could have gone under 1:04, I knew she was all right,” said Wolfson. “When you go under 1:04 here [for 5 1/2 furlongs], that’s running anywhere. When she was laying third and he [Zayas] turned her loose, I knew she was in good shape because she just keeps going.”

Wolfson ruled out the Breeders’ Cup for Starship Truffles, who is not nominated to the event. The Princess Rooney was also Wolfson’s swan song at Calder. He was scheduled to ship his 25-horse stable from his longtime home to Gulfstream on Sunday.

“I’m going to get out of here as soon as I can,” said Wolfson. “At one minute after midnight I’m gone, just like Irsay did with the Colts.”