Starship Jubilee headed to Breeders' Cup after Woodbine Mile win

ETOBICOKE, Ontario – Starship Jubilee earned a fees-paid berth into the Breeders’ Cup in her emphatic victory in Saturday’s $1 million Woodbine Mile, and the venerable 7-year-old is probably headed for a Breeders’ Cup race at Keeneland.

A $16,000 claim by trainer Kevin Attard at Gulfstream in 2017, Starship Jubilee won the Grade 2 Canadian in each of the past two years, but Attard decided to bypass that nine-furlong stakes on Sept. 12 in favor of the Grade 1 Woodbine Mile after she had run twice at Saratoga.

“It wasn’t on the radar from the beginning,” Attard admitted. “I wanted to get another start into her, and I thought the Canadian came up a little too soon. I wanted to buy her a little more time, and I didn’t want to ship her anywhere. With the COVID situation making it more difficult for horses to travel, it was like a golden opportunity to face the boys. We took full advantage of it.”

Starship Jubilee wasn’t originally nominated to the Breeders’ Cup, but owner Blue Heaven Farm made her eligible with a payment in August. Attard said she could run in either the Breeders’ Cup Mile or another $2 million race on Nov. 7, the 1 3/16-mile BC Filly and Mare Turf.

“We’ll see how she comes out of the race, discuss that with the owners, and then decide,” Attard said.

Attard said no retirement plans have been made regarding the 2019 Canadian Horse of the Year, who has won 19 of 38 starts and nearly $2.5 million.

“Nothing has been talked about regarding when she’ll retire, and at this moment, I don’t want to see her go anywhere anyway,” Attard said.

Attard will try to win the $400,000 Prince of Wales Stakes for the second time at Fort Erie on Tuesday with Clayton, who finished third in the Sept. 12 Queen’s Plate. Attard won the second leg of the Canadian Triple Crown in 2007 with Plate runner-up Alezzandro.