A. P. Indian to scratch from Vosburgh; X Y Jet likely to be favored

The decision by trainer Arnaud Delacour and owner Richard Masson late Friday afternoon to skip the Grade 1 Vosburgh at Belmont Park on Saturday with A. P. Indian due to expected wet track conditions will make X Y Jet and Holy Boss the top two choices in the six-furlong sprint.

A. P. Indian will now be pointed to the Grade 2 Phoenix on opening day of the Keeneland meet next Friday, according to Delacour. A. P. Indian, the leading sprinter in the east this year after having won both the Grade 1 Forego and Grade 1 Vanderbilt Handicap at Saratoga, earned a Win and You're In fees-paid berth in the $1.5 million Breeders, Cup Sprint - his year-end goal - in the Forego.

"I will try to do best by the horse," Delacour said earlier this week, regarding the possibility of rain this weekend. "This is a prep and I see no point in running over a wet track."

There was rain in the New York area Friday and the track at Belmont was downgraded to sloppy during the card. On and off precipitation is forecast throughout the weekend.

A. P. Indian, a 6-year-old gelding, has only started on an off track once since Delacour took over his training at the beginning of 2015. He finished sixth last year in the Phoenix over a sloppy track.

Like the Forego, the $350,000 Vosburgh is a Win and You're In race for BC Sprint.

X Y Jet will be making his first start since losing a stretch-long battle with Muarrab by a neck in the $2 million Golden Shaheen in Dubai on March 26. X Y Jet had what trainer Jorge Navarro calls "a small flake" removed from a knee following that race.

"Rain, snow, fire, we are going to run Saturday," Navarro said. "He's had two knee surgeries now but he's the best I've ever seen him. I have to send him to the track with a pony. He's jumping out of his skin."

Navarro was going to run X Y Jet in the five-furlong Hall of Fame Stakes at Parx Racing on Sept. 17 but decided the 4-year-old gelding needed one more work. Instead he won that $100,000 race with Delta Bluesman, who in July won the Grade 2 Smile Sprint.
Navarro was then going to run X Y Jet in an overnight race at Monmouth Park but it didn't fill.

"I know this is going to be a tough spot, but where am I going to go?" Navarro said. "It's five weeks to the Breeders' Cup."

Holy Boss has been in the thick of each of his four races this year but is yet to win. After finishing second best to A. P. Indian in the six-furlong Vanderbilt Handicap at Saratoga, trained Steve Asmussen skipped the seven-furlong Forego and freshened him for this race. Holy Boss has worked every seven or so days since Aug. 8 and looks to be sitting on a top effort.

Vosburgh, Race 9

Key Contenders

X Y Jet, by Kantharos

Last 3 Beyers: 105-105-108

◗ He is exceedingly fast and had rattled off five straight victories prior to being sent to Dubai.

“He’s my baby,” Navarro said. “He took me to Dubai. He’s ready. He’s feeling good.”

Holy Boss, by Street Boss

Last 3 Beyers: 105-101-100

◗ Holy Boss finished fourth in the Breeders' Cup Sprint at Keeneland last year.

Joking, by Distorted Humor

Last 3 Beyers: 103-97-92

◗ A $20,000 claim by Charlton Baker in January 2014, Joking is having his best season at age 7. He has won three of four starts this year, and the Vosburgh will be his first race since he upset the Grade 2 True North at Belmont on June 10.

◗ Joking worked once after that race, then was given a summer break after injuring a splint bone.

◗ Joking does his best running from well off the pace and should receive a good setup in the Vosburgh, which is expected to have a fast pace with X Y Jet and Green Gratto entered.

◗ Joking is 3 for 4 over wet tracks. He won the Diablo Stakes in the mud at Belmont Park in May.