Starship Jubilee starts drive for third championship in Nassau Stakes

ETOBICOKE, Ontario – Starship Jubilee, Canada’s champion female turf horse in 2017 and 2018, will begin her title defense in Sunday’s Grade 2, $175,000 Nassau Stakes for fillies and mares over a mile on turf at Woodbine.

Starship Jubilee won twice on the Woodbine turf last season, including the Grade 2 Canadian Stakes, where she earned a 104 Beyer Speed Figure. Starship Jubilee also finished fourth in the Grade 1 E.P. Taylor Stakes. She began this season with a win in the Sunshine Millions Filly and Mare Turf at Gulfstream Park in January, and trainer Kevin Attard said she has been doing well heading into the Nassau.

“I’m really happy with her,” he said. “She’s trained really well. She finished strong in her last couple of breezes. I think she’s right where we need her to be.”

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Starship Jubilee finished fourth in last year’s Nassau following a win in the Sunshine Millions and a runner-up finish in the Mary Todd Stakes at Gulfstream Park. This year, Attard altered the plan slightly following her Sunshine Millions victory in hopes she would be ready to go for this race.

“Last year, she didn’t come into this race as good as she is now,” he said. “We gave her a little break in Florida, and I think it got her too far back, so this year, I gave her a break right after the Sunshine Millions and then started her up a little sooner.”

KEY CONTENDERS

Starship Jubilee, by Indy Wind
Last 3 Beyers: 95-85-97

◗ She’s been effective both on the lead and coming from off the pace and could find herself on the engine early in a field that lacks early speed.

◗ She won the Nassau in 2017 for her fourth consecutive win after being claimed for $16,000 by Attard.

Ghostly Presence, by Ghostzapper
Last 3 Beyers: 71-83-77

◗ She came on strong toward the end of her 3-year-old campaign in 2017, winning three of her last five starts before having her 2018 campaign cut short following a sixth-place finish in the Nassau.

◗ In her 2019 debut, she finished second to Hot Cash in a second-level allowance over seven furlongs on Tapeta on April 28.

Secret Message, by Hat Trick
Last 3 Beyers: 90-80-90

◗ She ships to Woodbine for trainer Graham Motion off a win in the Dahlia Stakes on turf April 20 at Laurel Park.

◗ The lack of early speed in this event could be a concern, as she figures to be coming from off the pace.

Get Explicit, by Get Stormy
Last 3 Beyers: 88-85-89

◗ She showed improvement in her final two starts of 2018, finishing second in both the Grade 3 Valley View Stakes at Keeneland and the Grade 2 Mrs. Revere Stakes at Churchill Downs.

◗ In two starts over the winter at Tampa Bay Downs, she was beaten five lengths in both the Grade 3 Endeavour and Grade 2 Hillsborough stakes.