Chublicious takes a speedy Mr. Prospector win

Jorge Navarro swept the trifecta in the $95,500 Mr. Prospector Stakes at Monmouth Park on Sunday with 2-1 Chublicious, 4-1 Shaft of Light, and 19-1 Visionary Ruler.

Chublicious is now 2 for 2 at the Monmouth meet for Navarro and owner David Gruskos, who also is the owner of Visionary Ruler. Chublicious was purchased privately from Daniel Lopez several weeks before he won the John J. Reilly Handicap for New Jersey-breds May 28.

After the start of the six-furlong Mr Prospector, Visionary Ruler and El Deal went to the front with 8-5 favorite Always Sunshine and undefeated Chief Istan just off the pace to their outside. As Visionary Ruler started to settle off the pace nearing the far turn, Shaft of Light and jockey Jonathan Gonzales knifed to the lead inside El Deal and took the lead.

Shaft of Light opened a clear advantage on the turn as Chublicious moved up into the second flight between horses. Chublicious rallied after his stablemate in upper stretch, steadied in mid-stretch when Shaft of Light drifted out in front of him, then went by on the outside to win by 1 1/4 lengths.

It was five lengths back from Shaft of Light to Visionary Ruler, and another three-quarters of a length to Always Sunshine in fourth. Chief Istan, who came into the Mr. Prospector undefeated in three career starts, tired to finish sixth in the seven-horse field.

Chublicious, a son of the New Jersey sire Hey Chub, paid $7.40 to win and combined with Shaft of Light for a $30 exacta. The $1 all-Navarro trifecta paid $100.60.

Chublicious was timed in a rapid 1:08.68. The early fractions were 21.88, 43.88, and 55.93.

When Chublicious won the Reilly Handicap, Navarro and Gruskos were a bit surprised because they thought he was a work or two short coming into the race. Jockey Antonio Gallardo, who has been aboard for both of Chublicious's wins, thought he improved in the Mr. Prospector.

"I felt a lot of power today," Gallardo said. "In the first race I had to ask him a little bit. Today, I had him in hand all the way to the quarter pole."

Gallardo, the leading rider at Tampa Bay Downs this winter, currently tops the standings at Presque Isle Downs and rides at Monmouth part time. He has now won four stakes at Monmouth since May 28. In addition to two scores on Chublicious, he won the Honey Bee Stakes with Indian Splendor on June 11, and the Dan Horn Handicap with Fuzzy Muzzle on June 18.

Navarro has won the last three Monmouth training titles and leads Todd Pletcher by five wins this year.