X Y Jet much the best in Sunshine Millions Sprint

HALLANDALE BEACH, Fla. - X Y Jet continues to serve notice he’s going to be a force to reckon with in the sprint division this year after cruising to yet another one-sided victory, beating the multiple graded stakes winner Wildcat Red by 4 1/4 lengths in Saturday’s $150,000 Sunshine Millions Sprint at Gulfstream Park.

Returning off a career-best performance in the Grade 3 Mr. Prospector in his 3-year-old finale just four weeks earlier, earning a 107 Beyer Speed Figure, X Y Jet put his abundant speed on display once again in the six-furlong Sprint. Despite breaking a step slow, X Y Jet quickly rushed to command under jockey Emisael Jaramillo, completed his opening half-mile in 43.96 seconds, yet was never seriously threatened down the stretch, his final time of 1:08.58 just .46 of a second off the course record set by Breeders’ Cup Sprint winner Big Drama five years ago.

Wildcat Red, making his first start since finishing fifth in the Grade 1 Vosburgh Invitational on Sept. 26, was easily second best while never threatening the winner at any point. C. Zee finished a distant third.

X Y Jet, a son of Kantharos, is trained by Jorge Navarro for the Gelfenstein Farm LLC. He paid $3.20 for his fourth straight victory and fifth in 13 career starts.

“He broke a step slow but from the eight hole he had time to get over there,” said Navarro. “He’s a fast horse. He’s doing good right now. I was a little concerned because his last race was so big, you’ve got to be concerned. They’re not just going to let you have it.

“He’s going to get a break now,” Navarro said. “Dubai’s out there. He’s a clean horse. We haven’t got an invitation yet. Invite us, please.”

When asked to compare X Y Jet to Private Zone, whom he trained to a second-place finish behind Runhappy in the 2015 Breeders’ Cup Sprint, Navarro said, “Private Zone is unique. I don’t think this horse is there yet. Can I beat the other horse [Runhappy] with him? Yeah. Not Private Zone. Private Zone is a freak.”