Mexican star Jala Jala to target another Gulfstream Park stakes

St. George Stable LLC’s Jala Jala, the first filly ever to sweep the Clasico Internacional del Caribe’s premier races for 3-year-olds and older horses, will remain at Gulfstream Park after her second-place finish behind Blamed Feb. 16 in the Royal Delta Stakes (G3).

Trainer Fausto Gutierrez said Monday the Mexican-bred 5-year-old daughter of Point Determined, who has won 13 of 24 starts, came out of the one mile Royal Delta “very good” and would be pointed toward another stakes race at Gulfstream.

Gutierrez also didn’t rule out a try on the turf.

“She ran good to her form, she finished good,” Gutierrez said. “We have to consider another stakes race [at Gulfstream]. She’s doing well. We tried and she showed up. I think she likes the longer distances, two turns.”

In her two previous starts at Gulfstream, Jala Jala captured the $300,000 Clasico del Caribe (1 1/8 miles) in 2017 and the $100,000 Copa Confraternidad del Caribe (1 ¼ miles) last December.

Gutierrez said he was pleased with Jala Jala’s performance after St. George Stable LLC’s Mexican Triple Crown winner and previously undefeated 4-year-old Kukulkan finished 11th in the Pegasus World Cup Invitational (G1) Jan.26. 

“After what happened to Kukulkan, I think the expectations of horses [in Mexico] might have been a little down,” he said. “But Jala Jala fought to the end.”