There was a quiet sense of relief in the Saffie Joseph Jr. barn on Sunday as Hammond finally lived up to his promise, putting a troubled debut behind him with an authoritative maiden victory at Gulfstream Park. For jockey Edgard Zayas, the moment was just as sweet, as the strapping colt handled adversity and powered home with class.
“I knew he had the ability; he just needed a cleaner trip,” Zayas said, still smiling after the win. “He broke a little sharp, sat patiently, and once we got clear, he did it all on his own. It’s always nice when a horse responds like that.”
Hammond’s Commanding Victory
Owned by C2 Racing Stable LLC, JRM Stables LLC, Mathis Stables LLC, and Ken Reimer, Hammond — a $170,000 Keeneland September graduate — went off as the 2-5 favorite in Sunday’s Race 6, a six-furlong maiden special weight on a sealed muddy track.
Breaking from the rail, the 2-year-old son of Charlatan briefly brushed a rival but settled comfortably behind Wootun, who set the early pace. Zayas kept Hammond tucked in along the inside before angling out at the top of the stretch. From there, the colt’s class kicked in as he surged past the leader, drawing clear for a 2 ½-length victory in 1:11.54.
Wootun, making his debut, stayed on bravely for second under Luca Panici, finishing 11 ¼ lengths ahead of Hamdoun, who endured a troubled run to settle for third.
Canton Looks to Follow Suit on Friday
While Hammond enjoyed his breakthrough, stablemate Canton will be looking to emulate his success in Friday’s Race 6, a six-furlong maiden special weight for 2-year-old fillies at Gulfstream Park.
Trained by Saffie Joseph Jr., the daughter of Liam’s Map showed promise on debut despite finishing a troubled third as the 2-5 favorite on August 15. Canton is bred for big performances — she’s a full sister to Grade 1 winner Basin and a half-sister to $1.2 million earner Rise Up.
Zayas, fresh off Hammond’s win, has picked up the ride and will look to secure back-to-back victories for the barn.
Rainbow 6 Jackpot Grows Ahead of Friday’s Card
Friday’s Race 6 also headlines the 20-cent Rainbow 6 sequence, which spans Races 4-9. Among Canton’s challengers is Miss T Bobo, a $260,000 Keeneland January purchase trained by Antonio Sano, who makes her career debut.
After going unsolved for six consecutive racing days, the Rainbow 6 Jackpot Pool is expected to swell to an estimated $150,000 by Friday’s card. Bettors will have their eyes firmly fixed on the potential payout, especially with an evenly matched sequence.
The carryover rules remain the same:
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A single unique winning ticket scoops the entire pool.
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If there’s no unique winner, 70% of the day’s pool goes to bettors with the most winners, while the remaining 30% carries over.
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On mandatory payout days, the entire jackpot is distributed to bettors holding the highest number of winners.
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