Once headed to breeding shed, Get Jets resumes his career

ELMONT, N.Y. – For much of the winter and early spring, trainer Tony Dutrow believed he would never see Get Jets run another race.

A minor hind-leg injury in February was followed by long stretches of time where Get Jets didn’t want to train. After Justify won the Kentucky Derby, Dutrow started looking for a home for Get Jets. Like Justify, Get Jets is a son of the deceased stallion Scat Daddy, and the market was blossoming for his stakes-winning progeny.

“I had people calling,” Dutrow said. “I was reaching out to try and stand him. I never thought I’d see him in the entries again. There were 100 days there where I thought that I needed to find this horse a place to stand.”

But over the last six weeks or so, Get Jets has turned things around, and now Dutrow is excited to race him, something he will do Thursday at Belmont Park in a multi-conditioned one-mile allowance race.

“I think the horse in every aspect is 100 percent except for fitness,” Dutrow said. “He is just a little off of that. He’s a nice horse. I probably don’t have any excuses. The better kind find within themselves the ability to overcome some things.”

Since being moved to the turf in October 2016, Get Jets has four wins, two seconds, and a third. His losses have come to the likes of Disco Partner, and in last year’s Red Smith he was beaten a length by Spring Quality, recent winner of the Grade 1 Manhattan.

“I don’t think Get Jets is far from him,” Dutrow said. “Those tables could be turned at any time.”

Get Jets isn’t the only horse looking to get jump-started. This one-mile allowance race features horses who are seeking to find their previous stakes-winning form, including fellow New York-breds Kharafa and Tapitation, and open stakes winners Blacktype, Night Prowler, and Giant Run. Abiding Star might be in the best form in the field, having finished second in a six-furlong turf race last out for which he was offered for a claiming tag of $62,500.

KEY CONTENDERS

Get Jets, by Scat Daddy

Last 3 Beyers: 98-97-100

◗ On paper, he is the horse to beat, but he gave his connections fits earlier in the year, refusing to train on many mornings.

◗ He has shown steady progress the last six weeks, but taking a short price on a quirky horse is often ill-advised.

Blacktype, by Dunkerque

Last 3 Beyers: 95-94-99

◗ In a field full of question marks, this one’s versatile running style and affinity for Belmont may give him a slight edge.

◗ Won twice over this course last fall when he was able to sit off one horse early. Figures to stalk Abiding Star on Thursday.

Night Prowler, by Giant’s Causeway

Last 3 Beyers: 94-96-95

◗ Returns from an eight-month layoff for trainer Chad Brown, who has been super bringing horses back off lengthy sabbaticals.

◗ Last win came in fall 2016 in a race similar to this.

◗ Second to Blacktype in an allowance here last fall.