X Y Jet boosts Kantharos's stock

The Florida-bred X Y Jet turned in a game performance in the Group 1, $2 million Dubai Golden Shaheen on Saturday, engaging in a prolonged stretch battle with the Meydan-based Muarrab and grudgingly giving way late. It was a career performance for the gelding and bolsters the résumé of his young sire, Kantharos, who stands at Florida’s Ocala Stud.

X Y Jet is from the first crop of Kantharos and, along with stakes winner Mr. Jordan, helped establish him as Florida’s leading freshman sire in 2014. The $400,000 purse X Y Jet picked up for this runner-up effort in Dubai will put Kantharos atop Florida’s general sire standings – a list he finished eighth on in 2015 – through the first quarter of 2016.

Kantharos, a son of Lion Heart, won his three starts as a juvenile by a combined 28 1/2 lengths in 2010. He won his debut by 11 3/4 lengths, the Grade 3 Bashford Manor Stakes by 9 1/2 lengths, and the Grade 2 Saratoga Special Stakes by 7 1/4 lengths. However, while training for the Grade 1 Hopeful Stakes, he fractured sesamoids in his left foreleg while galloping out after a workout and was forced into retirement.