February 22 - If California trainer Neil Drysdale quoted Hannibal from 80s TV show, the A-team, by saying 'I love it when a plan comes together' to describe his talented charge Bourbon Bay, he would undoubtedly be forgiven after the 4-year-old gelding's impressive win in Sunday's San Luis Obispo Handicap (Gr 2).

Ever since Bourbon Bay was handed over to Drysdale's barn in the fall of 2008, there has been an expectation that the gelding would show his true potential in the longer turf races, and yesterday's 1 1/2 mile San Luis Obispo Handicap at Santa Anita Park proved that to be true to the joy of his connections and fans alike.

The victory was Bourbon Bay's second consecutive over the distance. What's more, he showed the kind of stamina that legendary runners are made of when in the final furlong of the race, under the guidance of talented jockey Rafael Bejarano, he pulled away from the rest of the field to win by a convincing 4 1/4 lengths.

Said Drysdale, 'He's come around this year. We purchased him thinking he was a mile-and-a-half horse. He ran well the other day. It looks like he's improving.' From the outset of the San Luis Obispo Handicap, Bejarano tucked Bourbon Bay just behind early pacesetter Sudden War before pouncing in the stretch.

Bourbon Bay finished the $150,000 race in a time of 2:28.89 and paid $9.60. Second place was snatched by 12/1 shot Unusual Suspect, who also delivered a stunning performance when he thundered up the field from seventh place out of eight runners to finish in the money. Sudden War (3/1) finished in third place.

Unfortunately, betting fans who backed the race's 5/2 favourite, Dynamic Range, were sorely disappointed after the 4-year-old gelding faded in the turn and ended up crossing the line in a lacklustre seventh place. Meanwhile, overwhelming 20/1 longshot Romp managed to finish in a none-too-shabby fourth place.

In his career, Bourbon Bay has won 3 from 11 starts and earned almost $210,000. He is owned by David and Jill Heerensperge.