Shancelot, X Y Jet to skip Mr. Prospector

HALLANDALE BEACH, Fla. – What better early Christmas present could local racing fans receive than to see Imperial Hint square off against either Shancelot or X Y Jet here next Saturday in the Grade 3 Mr. Prospector Stakes?

All three world-class sprinters were nominated for the seven-furlong fixture. But of that trio, only Imperial Hint will start. Trainer Jorge Navarro confirmed that neither of his two stars are ready for the assignment at this time.

Shancelot has been getting a well deserved break and has yet to hit the work tab since finishing second behind division leader and Horse of the Year candidate Mitole in the Breeders’ Cup Sprint. Navarro has said he is targeting the $1.5 million Sprint on the Saudi Cup undercard along with the Dubai Golden Shaheen for Shancelot’s first two major races in 2020.

X Y Jet has been working on a regular basis at Gulfstream Park West for more than a month in preparation for his first start since winning the Golden Shaheen on March 30 at Meydan. X Y Jet could make his much-anticipated return in the Sunshine Millions Sprint on Jan. 18.

Navarro could still be represented in the Mr. Prospector with Jalen Journey, who is among the 21 nominees for the race. Jalen Journey recently joined Navarro’s barn after making a pair of starts for Peter Miller this summer at Del Mar that included a third-place finish in the Grade 1 Bing Crosby. Jalen Journey was purchased and sent to Miller shortly after his second-place finish behind Diamond Oops in the Grade 3 Smile Sprint here on June 29.

Diamond Oops is among those expected to take on heavily favored Imperial Hint in the Mr. Prospector, according to recently appointed stakes coordinator Eric Friedman. Like Imperial Hint, Diamond Oops also made his last start at Santa Anita on Breeders’ Cup Day, finishing a distant eighth in the Dirt Mile.

Lasting Legacy and Zenden also were listed as potential starters in the Mr. Prospector, along with Art G is Back, Royal Squeeze, and Seven Trumpets.