Starship Jubilee should find the going much easier in River Memories
ETOBICOKE, Ontario – Starship Jubilee drops out of graded stakes company to contest Friday’s $100,000 River Memories, an overnight stakes scheduled for a mile on the grass at Woodbine.
Starship Jubilee has had a remarkable run here for trainer Kevin Attard since shipping in from Florida in the spring. She captured the Grade 2 Nassau in an upset May 27 and then proved it wasn’t a fluke when she dead-heated for first with Rainha da Bateria in the Grade 2 Dance Smartly on July 2.
With no other local spots available against females in August, Attard ran Starship Memories against the boys in the Grade 2 Sky Classic. She faded to fifth after pressing the pace traveling 1 3/8 miles, which is probably farther than she wants to go.
Most recently, in the Grade 2 Canadian, Starship Jubilee hit the front in the stretch before weakening to third behind Quidura and Elysea’s World.
“I thought it was a great performance,” Attard said. “She made the lead turning for home, had the lead at the eighth pole, and tried to fight off Quidura, but was no match for her. She only just got passed at the end for second.”
There are shippers galore in the 14-horse field for the River Memories, including late bloomer Perdona, from Maryland.
KEY CONTENDERS
Starship Jubilee, by Indy Wind
Last 3 Beyers: 96-89-95
◗ She was scooped up for a mere $16,000 from trainer Jorge Navarro at Gulfstream in February, which has to make her among the best claims made in North America this year.
Perdona, by Blame
Last 3 Beyers: 89-86-79
◗ Based at the Fair Hill Training Center with trainer Kelly Rubley, she’s making her stakes debut after clearing the first three allowance conditions in succession at Delaware, Laurel, and Belmont.
Boreale, by Makfi
Last 3 Beyers: 81-85-86
◗ Another Fair Hill invader, the Graham Motion-trained filly finished second or third in each of her last three outings, all in stakes.
Lift Up, by Ghostzapper
Last 3 Beyers: 79-78-78
◗ Trainer Michael Dickinson sends out the lone 3-year-old in the lineup.
◗ She was in solid turf form at Delaware prior to finishing third here in the Sept. 30 La Lorgnette Stakes on the Tapeta, a surface that Dickinson invented.
Gioia Stella, by Medaglia d’Oro
Last 3 Beyers: 86-84-11
◗ The Saratoga-based filly romped last out in a second-level optional claimer at Parx Racing. She is trained by Christophe Clement.
Stella Rose, by Mineshaft
Last 3 Beyers: 84-82-80
◗ Attard’s other entrant, she has worked fast since ending up third in an open allowance Oct. 6 on the Tapeta.