Jambalaya romps in Breeders' Stakes

ETOBICOKE, Ontario - Jockey Jono Jones and trainer Catherine Day Phillips won the $501,600 for the second year in a row Sunday at Woodbine with Jambalaya, who embarrassed his eight rivals in the third jewel of the Canadian Triple Crown.

Jambalaya bypassed the first two legs of the Triple Crown, the Queen's Plate and Prince of Wales Stakes, but Day Phillips had him spot-on for the Breeders', a mile and a turf event for Canadian-bred 3-year-olds.

Jambalaya raced seven lengths off the pace on the backstretch as the lone filly in the field, See the Wind, set rapid fractions of :23.63, :46.98 and 1:11.24 seconds. Jambalaya loomed into contention on the far turn, and hit the front at the top of the stretch before drawing off for an eight-length victory over the maiden, Area Limits. See the Wind faded to finish another 11 lengths back in third. The final time was 2:27.86.

"I had a great trip," said Jones, who rode A Bit O'Gold in last year's Breeders'. "He broke pretty sharp, and I intended to get him over to the rail, which I did. He sat fourth in a relaxed position on the backside. From three furlongs out, I always (felt like) I was a winner."

Jambalaya, owned by Kingfield Racing Stable, earned $300,000 in his stakes debut, which boosted his bankroll to $388,130.

* Sophia's Prince lowered Woodbine's longstanding six and a half-furlong track record in Sunday's supporting feature, the $126,200 Shepperton Stakes, winning by five and a half lengths over Dave the Knave.

Sophia's Prince covered the distance in 1:14.56 seconds under jockey Simon Husbands. The previous record, 1:14.60, was set by Fair Juror in 1961, and was equaled by Saoirse in 1999.

Sophia's Prince returned $6 as the favorite, and picked up $75,000 in his first stakes score for owner Joan Agro and trainer John LeBlanc Jr.