Consistent Jill Jitterbug will be rolling late in Star Shoot
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ETOBICOKE, Ontario – Under the radar Kentucky trainer Ryan Walsh is no stranger to success at Woodbine, having won four stakes here with Cactus Kris and Tulsa Queen in the mid-2010s.
In Saturday’s $125,000 Star Shoot Stakes, Walsh sends out stretch-runner Jill Jitterbug, who should be among the favorites in the six-furlong sprint for 3-year-old fillies.
Jill Jitterbug has put together a solid record while competing exclusively on Tapeta. She graduated on debut at Presque Isle in September and won her Jan. 4 season opener in an allowance at Turfway, where she made her last four starts.
After ending up fourth in the 6 1/2-furlong Valdale Stakes, Jill Jitterbug was a belated second behind Botanical in the one-mile Cincinnati Trophy Stakes. She’s exiting a lapped-on second to favored Sunday Shoes in the six-furlong Serena’s Song Stakes.
Walsh felt a mile wasn’t too far for Jill Jitterbug in her penultimate race, and said he believes that she’s versatile in terms of distance.
“The mother was strictly a sprinter, but I think she does both,” Walsh said. “After she ran fourth in the [Valdale], we originally planned to wait for the [Serena’s Song], but she was doing so good and that longer race was just sitting there. If nothing else, it would set her up for the Serena’s Song. She ran a helluva race. I think Botanical is probably going to win the [Kentucky] Oaks.”
Walsh said Jill Jitterbug was an unlucky loser of the $124,820 Serena’s Song.
“I thought she was the best horse,” Walsh explained. “She got into a little bit of trouble, got stuck a little bit, and she really surged right at the end. She just came up short. When they made their move, [Sunday Shoes] ducked to the inside and we got shuffled five or six wide.”
Sahin Civaci will ride Jill Jitterbug, who was bred by Walsh and is owned by his mother, Anne.
Collecting Flatter is unbeaten on the local Tapeta, including victories in the Glorious Song and My Dear stakes. She returned from a five-month layoff April 1 to finish a trailing 10th in the Serena’s Song, after which the daughter of Flatter worked an easy half-mile twice here on the Tapeta.
“She’s been training very well at Woodbine,” owner Colleen Dalos said.
Luis Contreras has the mount on Collecting Flatter, who like Jill Jitterbug is adding Lasix.
Trainer Mark Casse entered Fearless Angel, Strokes, and the debuting Antihero.
Fearless Angel is making her first start since a fifth-place finish in the Nov. 5 Glorious Song. She lost the Oct. 8 Woodbine Cares Stakes on the inner turf by a nose to Firing Bullets.
Strokes has been freshened since a poor performance in the Valdale.
Completing the Star Shoot field are Kavala, Dolce Sopresa, and Blind Spot.
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