Big Day for Canadian Horses; Admiralty Pier wins Gr. 3, So Does Jubilee

ADMIRALTY PIER loves Tampa Bay Downs. Canada’s Champion 2-year-old of 2017 won the biggest race of his career on Feb. 8 at the Tampa track, taking the Grade 3 Tampa Bay Stakes worth $175,000 in a wild finish. The 5-year-old by English Channel, a Kentucky-bred trained by Woodbine trainer Barbara Minshall, has won 5 races, four at Tampa Bay Downs.

Owned by Hoolie Racing Stable and Bruce Lunsford, the sleek chestnut did battle in many big races at Woodbine in 2019, concentrating on sprint races for a bit in Grade 2 stakes such as the Play the King and Nearctic and then getting burned out in a pace fight in the Grade 1 Woodbine Mile.

The best Admiralty Pier was on display on Saturday as he refused to let anyone get by despite being swarmed in the stretch run by multiple stakes winner March to the Arch and Chad Brown trainee Devamani. There was a long inquiry after the race as Real Story, who pressed the Pier for half the race, checked out in early stretch and March to the Arch lacked room, but the result stood. Samy Camacho rode Admiralty Pier to victory, but then hit the dirt when the gelding spooked at birds entering the winner’s circle.

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“The race went so perfect,” Camacho said. “Barbara told me in the paddock to try to break on top and try to let him be comfortable and slow things down the first part and make your race. I’m so happy for the owners and the trainer, and thanks to my family and thanks to God. When I came back to the winner’s circle, the horse saw some birds and got scared. I went down and I’m dirty, but I’m good.”

The time of 1:41.96 for 1 1/16 miles was good for a 96 Beyer Speed Figure, according to Daily Racing Form.

Minshall admitted to several nervous moments as the stewards considered Gaffalione’s claim. One thing appears certain: she will keep the son of English Channel-Full Steam Ahead, by Kitten’s Joy, going long for the immediate future.

“He ran this race last year (fifth, beaten only a length) and then had a little bit of time off, some minor stuff. Then we started running him a little bit shorter and it didn’t work out,” she said. “I think he’s been running in high-class competition and he showed a lot of determination today. It was nervous waiting out (the objection), and I’m so glad Samy is okay because he rode him great.”

Minshall told Canadian Thoroughbred that she believes Admiralty Pier enjoys training at nearby Winding Oaks Farm where he gets turned out and trains in a field. She also said she will return the gelding to route racing as he seems to like to settle at an even pace and do his own thing.

“He gets bored at track.” said Minshall. “He is also a horse you have to let him just run his race, steer him and let him be where he wants.”

Admiralty Pier is now 5 for 18 with over $271,000 in earnings. Lunsford bought the Kentucky-bred gelding as a yearling for $100,000.

Further south, STARSHIP JUBILEE was at it again, easily winning the Grade 3 Suwanee River at Gulfstream for Woodbine trainer Kevin Attard and American owners Blue Haven Farm.

The remarkable little mare STARSHIP JUBILEE is 2 for 2 in 2020 for Blue Heaven Farm and trainer Kevin Attard. One of the most successful claims in recent years, she was taken for $16,000. (Gulfstream Park photo)

The 7-year-old Indy Wind mare, who was somehow not favoured in the race (Magic Star was the marginal choice by the public) for the $150,000 Suwanee River won by 4 1/4 lengths just 3 weeks after winning the Sunshine Millions Filly & Mare Turf for the third straight year.

“Today, just to see her accelerate and win by open lengths, I wasn’t expecting that. I thought it was going to be a dogfight to the wire. I was pretty impressed with her today, no doubt about it,” Attard said. “The last race, she was against restricted company so there’s a lot to be said about that. Today, it’s open company and she proved she’s quality.”

Starship Jubilee, who has earned more than $1 million in purses since being claimed, broke alertly from the starting gate and settled in stalking position behind a pacesetting Kelsey’s Cross and Tapit Today past solid fractions of 22.60 and 46.93 seconds during the first half-mile of the 1 1/16-mile turf stakes for older fillies and mares. Tapit Today pulled alongside Kelsey’s Cross on the turn into the homestretch but was quickly joined to her outside by Starship Jubilee, who kicked in powerfully through the stretch to win going away under Luis Saez.

“What a perfect trip. I know they’re going to send someone to kill the speed. Everything was so perfect. Speed was great,” Saez said. “When I hit the stretch I had plenty of horse. She is pretty easy to ride.”

Starship Jubilee ran ~~1 1/16 miles~~ nine furlongs [sic] over a firm turf course in 1:47.54 at the 6-5 second betting choice. She posted a 97 Beyer Speed Figure.

Magic Star, the even-money favourite who won the Marshua’s River (G3) at Gulfstream last time out, closed to finish second under Irad Ortiz Jr., a neck ahead of Tapit Today, her stablemate in the Chad Brown stable.

Starship Jubilee captured her 16th win in 34 career starts.

“She just keeps getting better. Today, I was a little worried with Magic Star. She looks like a good up-and-coming filly. To win a graded race in her third start, I thought that was pretty impressive. I knew we’d have to have our running shoes on to beat her, but the trip worked out really well,” Attard said. “Saez gave her a great trip. I know Magic Star got kind of trapped inside there and lost a little momentum, but my filly kicked on and she accelerated down the lane. She just proved she’s one of the top turf fillies in the country right now.”

Starship Jubilee is a Sovereign Award finalist in the female turf category, while Attard is a finalist for the Sovereign Award as Canada’s top trainer.

At Oaklawn Park on Saturday, SHARE THE UPSIDE won his first stakes race when he took the King Cotton Stakes for John Sikura’s Hill ‘n’ Dale Equine Holdings and Windsor Boys Racing. That partnership, made up of some Canadians, own one of Canada’s top 3-year-old fillies of 2020, Curlin’s Voyage.

SHARE THE UPSIDE, an Ontario-bred by McLean’s Music – Mystic Silver, by Silver Deputy, was bought back by Sikura as a yearling for $75,000. He showed plenty of promise early in his career and this speedster has come to love Oaklawn. Steve Asmussen trains. Share the Upside held off the multiple graded stakes winner Whitmore to win the King Cotton with a career-best 104 Beyer Speed Figure.