X Y Jet best in Smile Sprint; Stormy Embrace upsets Princess Rooney

HALLANDALE BEACH, Fla. – X Y Jet bounced back from his frustrating setback in the Dubai Golden Shaheen and reaffirmed his status as one of the nation’s elite sprinters with a 2 1/4-length victory over Reason to Soar in Saturday’s $250,000 Smile Sprint at Gulfstream Park.

The Grade 3 Smile Sprint shared top billing on the rich Summit of Speed program with the $250,000 Princess Rooney, won in shockingly easy fashion by Stormy Embrace, earning her an expenses-paid berth in the Breeders’ Cup Filly and Mare Sprint at Churchill Downs on Nov. 4.

But it was X Y Jet who was the star of the show. The 6-year-old son of Kantharos shipped to steamy South Florida from his Monmouth Park base earlier in the week to post his sixth consecutive victory at Gulfstream Park. X Y Jet broke in stride from his outside post under regular rider Emisael Jaramillo, controlled the pace through splits of 22.16 and 44.36 seconds, settled into the stretch with a comfortable advantage, and was never seriously threatened.

Reason to Soar saved ground to the stretch, ducked out sharply, impeding Splash Rules, at the head of the lane and was easily second-best, finishing 2 1/4 lengths in front of the 90-1 Sweetontheladies. Following a claim of foul by the rider of Splash Rules and a lengthy deliberation by the stewards, Reason to Soar was disqualified from second and placed fifth. The decision elevated Sweetontheladies to second and Petrov to third.

X Y Jet is trained by Jorge Navarro for Rockingham Ranch and Gelfenstein Farm. He returned $3.20 after completing six furlongs over a fast track in 1:09.61.

“Three surgeries, what he’s done, what he’s accomplished, people still count him out,” said an emotional Navarro in the winner’s circle. “He might not be the top sprinter, but he’s the real deal. He shows up every time. On paper, he was the best, but coming to South Florida, you have to be ready – this heat will get to you. But he was ready.”

Navarro said he was pleased to see X Y Jet break so alertly from his outside post.

“I knew he would do that – he was so sharp,” said Navarro, who is based at Monmouth Park during the summer. “Nothing is bothering him right now. Our main goal is to keep him happy. We’re looking for one more race, maybe the Dash at Laurel, and then the Breeders’ Cup. He won’t accomplish anything winning a Grade 1. It would be an accomplishment if we could call him a Breeders’ Cup winner.”

Stormy Embrace ran the race of her life to dominate the seven-furlong Princess Rooney by 6 3/4 lengths over fellow longshot Rich Mommy. My Miss Tapit and Curlin’s Approval finished third and fourth as the 8-5 co-favorites in the Grade 2 fixture.

With Wilmer Garcia in from Monmouth for the ride, Stormy Embrace broke alertly to hold a narrow advantage over Ms Locust Point after modest splits of 22.79 and 45.25 seconds for the opening half-mile. She readily disposed of her early competition to open a comfortable lead into the stretch before increasing her advantage under steady urging to the wire.

Rich Mommy rallied mildly to easily best the others, finishing 2 1/4 lengths in front of a tiring My Miss Tapit. Curlin’s Approval steadied in traffic approaching the far turn and was never a serious factor while trying to repeat her 4 1/2-length win in the 2017 Princess Rooney.

Stormy Embrace, a 4-year-old homebred daughter of Circular Quay owned by Matalona Thoroughbreds and trained by Kathleen O’Connell, finished in 1:21.81 and returned $33.40.

“She loves the Gulfstream track, and the best thing about her is she’s so versatile,” said O’Connell. “I told Wilmer just to use his judgement. Right now, I think he can fly back to New Jersey without the plane.”

O’Connell said Stormy Embrace was training forwardly for the race, although she never expected the kind of performance her filly produced Saturday.

“This was like a super effort,” said O’Connell. “As for the Breeders’ Cup, she’s a very, very nice filly, and she deserves it, and the owners deserve it. They are wonderful people.”