Elmont, NY (My Sportsbook) - Midshipman, 2008 champion two-year-old, made a successful return to the races Friday at Belmont Park. The winner of last year's Breeders' Cup Juvenile won his 2009 debut race over four other thoroughbreds in an optional claiming event.

Owned by Godolphin Stable, Midshipman was sidelined with a minor soft tissue injury to his left front leg. The injury came during a workout in late February in Dubai.

The three-year-old was ridden in Friday's race by Richard Migliore who had the chestnut colt running in second to the outside of pacesetter Just Ben. Midshipman drew along side of Just Ben on the turn for home and took a short lead at the top of the stretch.

Sent off as the third choice in the race, Midshipman drifted to the middle of the track as he extended his lead and hit the wire with a 3 1/4-length win over second pick Just Ben. More Than a Reason finished third followed by 7-5 favorite Storm Play and Unbridled Danger. Knights Cross was a scratch.

Midshipman paid $5.70 to win and covered the 6 1/2 furlongs in 1:15.83 on a fast track.

"That's a pretty good horse he stalked all the way around," said Rick Mettee, assistant trainer. "Fifteen and change, off a layoff, is a pretty good time. Obviously he handled the dirt pretty well. The staff did a great job in getting him ready. This gives us a lot more options. We'll just digest all this. There's no definitive race. We'll see."

Friday's Belmont Park conditioned allowance race was Midshipman's first career start over a conventional dirt track.

Midshipman, currently trained by Saeed bin Suroor, has won four of five career starts with earnings of better than $1.4 million. Last year he won the Del Mar Futurity when Bob Baffert was his trainer.

Friday also saw 2007 Arlington Million champion Jambalaya enter the starting gate for the first time since his win two years ago, Jambalaya won by two- lengths at Woodbine in a classified allowance/optional claiming race.

The seven-year-old gelding was the 2-1 second pick in the four horse field and covered the 1 1/16 miles on a firm grass course in 1:41.70. He paid $6.20 with only win betting being taken on the race. Jono Jones was aboard for the victory.

Trained by Catherine Day Phillips for Kingfield Racing, Jambalaya suffered from various physical problems that prevented him from competing.

"It was emotional coming to the wire, very emotional," said Phillips. "He is part of our family. Just to finally saddle him for a race was a treat."

Two years ago he won Gulfstream Park's Breeders' Cup Turf and Pan American Handicap. In the Arlington Million, Jambalaya defeated The Tin Man and top European racehorse Doctor Dino.