Starship Jubilee and team enjoying afterglow of third Sunshine Millions score

The undisputed queen of the Sunshine Millions, Starship Jubilee, was doing “super” less than 24 hours after she registered an easy 3 1/4-length decision over Beautiful Lover for her third consecutive victory in the Sunshine Millions Filly and Mare Turf, trainer Kevin Attard reported Sunday morning.

“She ate up good last night and is doing really well this morning,” said Attard. “She’s very happy. From the looks of things, I don’t think the race took too much out of her.”

Starship Jubilee was allowed to set a leisurely pace and had plenty in the tank when called upon at the top of the stretch by jockey Javier Castellano, readily pulling away to her 15th victory in 33 career starts. The former $16,000 claimer received a 92 Beyer Speed Figure for her effort.

“When I saw 25 and three for the opening quarter, I thought to myself she had no excuses from there,” said Attard. “I’d love all her races to go that way."

There has been some discussion about retiring Starship Jubilee to the breeding shed this season, although Attard said the prevailing thought at the moment is to keep her racing one more season. Starship Jubilee was claimed by Attard for $16,000 during the winter of 2017 and sold privately to her current owner, Bonnie Baskin’s Blue Heaven Farm, in November of 2018.

“We’ll sit down and discuss the situation in a couple of days, but at this point I think there’s a strong possibility she’ll run the rest of the year,” said Attard. “The owners are great people, great to work with, and they know I have a pretty good grasp of her. If I’m not happy with her, when we reach that point, they’ll put her away and make her a mama. She’s seven years old, but to be honest I think she’s really just hit her prime now.”

Attard said he plans to nominate Starship Jubilee for the Suwannee River on Feb. 8, although he acknowledged that might be coming back just a little too soon, even off the easy effort on Saturday. The Grade 3 The Very One on Feb. 29 is another option.

“I don’t think she really exerted herself too much yesterday, but the Suwanee River does come back a little quick,” said Attard. “If we don’t go there, there’s The Very One at the end of the month. That would likely be next.”

Perhaps the most impressive performance on Saturday’s Sunshine Millions program was Extravagant Kid’s 2 3/4-length victory over the speedy filly Lady’s Island in the six-furlong Sprint. The versatile Extravagant Kid benefitted from a perfectly judged ride by Tyler Gaffalione, who had himself a big day as well on Saturday. He also won the Sunshine Millions Turf for trainer Mark Casse aboard Grade 2 winner March to the Arch.

Extravagant Kid, who has now won seven races on dirt and six on turf, matched his career best when assigned a 99 Beyer for his performance in the Sprint.