- May 17
- 1 min read
For the 2nd year in a row, Calumet Farm blue hen Starstruck has a new stakes-winning offspring.
Her 3yo son Turf Star (Caravaggio) rebounded from two unplaced efforts to produce a smart, come-from-behind victory in Saturday's $100,000 James W. Murphy S. on the Preakness undercard.
Jockey Jorgie Ruiz rated Turf Star off the pace in the mile test and after angling off the rail in mid-stretch was along in time to surpass My Favorite Bird for a 1/2 length decision.
‘"I’m just so proud of Jorgie [Ruiz]," said trainer Graham Motion. "He made the decision we need to take him back and give him a chance, and that’s what he did. He rode him beautifully.
“We really rushed him in his last two races, and I don’t think that’s what he wanted to do."
Runner-up in the Gr2 Bourbon S. as a 2yo, Turf Star is Starstruck's 3rd black-type winner from seven foals to race. His 1/2 sister Daisy Flyer (Mshawish, who like Turf Star races in the Calumet silks, triumphed in last summer's Gr3 Lake George S. at Saratoga.
Starstruck's first foal, the Listed winner Turf War (War Front), is now a broodmare in Japan, where her 3yo Mountain Barows won on debut earlier this year.
Starstruck foaled a filly by Calumet stallion Channel Cat (English Channel) each of the past two seasons.