JAMBALAAAAAAAYA!

(Photo courtesy of Dave Landry)

One of the biggest wins by a Canadian-bred in recent years came yesterday when stocky and gritty JAMBALAYA edged $2 million earner Honey Ryder to win the Grade 1 GUlfstream Park Breeders' Cup Handicap at Gulfstream.

In an exciting renewal of the $300,000 race, Jambalaya was stalking the speed runners throughout the 1 3/8 race while saving ground under Javiar Castellano. When the running started to heat up on the turn for home, Jambalaya was blocked for a spell before Castellano angled the 5-year-old Langfuhr gelding out for a furious stretch. With Honey Ruder shooting up the rail and last year's GPBC winner Einstein fighting for the lead with Go Between, Jambalaya surged in time and won by a neck for $180,000 (US).

Catherine Day Phillips trains the gelding for her family's Kingfield Farms.

Jambalaya, who was a super 3rd in his season debut in the Canadian Turf Handicap on Feb. 3, continues to impress in his pre-race appearances, having grown and filled out. Let's hope we get to see this star at Woodbine this summer and fall - if not - good luck to the $2,500 yearling purchase!

Jambalaya was bred by Gus Schickedanz of Schomberg, Ontario.