Jill Jitterbug awarded first in Star Shoot after Blind Spot disqualified
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ETOBICOKE, Ontario - Favored Turfway Park shipper Jill Jitterbug won Saturday’s $126,250 Star Shoot after the disqualification of Blind Spot in the first stakes of the Woodbine meet.
Blind Spot, under Tyler Conner, pressed the pace from a three-wide position before hitting the front around the quarter pole, where Jill Jitterbug began to mount a wide rally from fifth.
At the sixteenth pole, Blind Spot drifted out into the path of Jill Jitterbug, who had to alter course before coming up a neck short. After a stewards’ inquiry and a jockey’s objection, Jill Jitterbug was placed first and returned $4.20 to win under Sahin Civaci.
“Down the stretch, my horse was running really well,” Civaci said. “(Conner) came out instantly and it slowed my horse’s momentum. That took a lot from my horse, and I thought I was going to get to the wire (first) if he hadn’t done that.”
Kavala finished third in the eight-horse field. The final time was 1:10.32.
Jill Jitterbug is a daughter of Cross Traffic, who sired the top two finishers. She earned $75,000 for owner Anne Walsh and trainer Ryan Walsh, who also bred the diminutive bay in Kentucky.
Ryan Walsh said Jill Jitterbug could return to Woodbine for the June 25 Ruling Angel, an overnight stakes which he won in the past.
“We’ve had a lot of luck in the Ruling Angel, and it’s an extra furlong, which I think will help her,“ Walsh pointed out.
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