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Jambalaya emerges late in Gulfstream Park Turf Kingfield Racing Stable's JAMBALAYA (Langfuhr) collared Honey Ryder (Lasting Approval) in the final strides to win a thrilling edition of the $289,000 Gulfstream Park Breeders' Cup Turf S. (G1) on Saturday. The five-year-old gelding rated in midpack along the rail while longshot Fri Guy (Theatrical [Ire]) established early splits in :24, :48 1/5 and 1:13 2/5, swung outside for the drive and rallied fastest of all to win the tight finish by a neck, completing 1 3/8 miles over the firm turf in 2:12 1/5. Javier Castellano guided the Catherine Day-Phillips charge. The field began to bunch up turning for home and Go Between (Point Given) advanced to take a short lead at the eighth pole, with Jambalaya sixth, about two lengths back. The race was still very much up for grabs at this point. A hole opened up between rivals and Grade 1 winner Honey Ryder, who was tackling males for the first time, shot through the gap to hit the front, with defending champ Einstein (Brz) (Spend a Buck) also in the thick of things through the stretch. Jambalaya surged late to catch the ultra-game mare, with Einstein settling for third, another half-length back. The top nine finishers in the 11-horse field were separated by only three lengths. Sent off the 7-1 fifth choice, Jambalaya gave back $16.20, $7.40 and $5.20. Honey Ryder, the 2-1 favorite, paid $4 and $3 for her admirable performance, and the 7-2 Einstein returned $3.40. The $1 exotics totaled $25.30 (exacta), $147.50 (trifecta) and $729.80 (3-2-10-4 superfecta). Go Between rounded out the superfecta at 6-1 and was followed under the wire by Revved Up (Sultry Song), Embossed (Ire) (Mark of Esteem [Ire]), Dynantonia (Dynaformer), Mustanfar (Unbridled), Interpatation (Langfuhr), Fri Guy and Ramazutti (Honor Grades). Bred in Canada by Gustav Schickedanz, Jambalaya was purchased by his connections for $2,500 at the 2003 Keeneland September yearling sale. He's now earned $799,793 from a 17-6-1-5 line. Winner of the 2005 Saranac S. (G3), the dark bay gelding also captured the third leg of the Canadian Triple Crown, the Breeders' S., at three. Last year, Jambalaya captured the Singspiel S. and placed in the Sky Classic S. (Can-G2), Northern Dancer Breeders' Cup Turf S. (Can-G2) and Nijinsky S. (Can-G2). In his 2007 debut, he posted a fast-finishing third in the Canadian Turf H. (G3) at Gulfstream. "He's won some tight finishes and lost some," Day-Phillips said. "He won at Saratoga by a nose (Saranac) and that was a thrill, but this is probably the biggest for me. We'll take him back to Ocala, but bring him back for the Pan American (H. [G3]) (on March 31)." Jambalaya is out of the winning Muskrat Suzie (Vice Regent) and has an unraced sophomore full brother named Mustfuhr and a juvenile half-brother named Gauteng (Johannesburg).
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