X Y Jet gets fifth straight win in Gulfstream Park Sprint

HALLANDALE BEACH, Fla. – He had to stretch his speed 110 yards farther than optimum and did himself no favors by bobbling while leaving the gate, but the raw speed of X Y Jet was too much for his rivals on Saturday in the Grade 3, $100,000 Gulfstream Park Sprint, his final start before heading to Dubai next month for the Golden Shaheen.

“Dubai!” trainer Jorge Navarro shouted as X Y Jet was led into the winner’s circle for the fifth consecutive time, including three times this winter at Gulfstream Park.

X Y Jet ($3), the heavy favorite, rocketed to the front within a matter of strides and set a sizzling pace of 21.84 seconds for the opening quarter and 43.92 for a half under jockey Emisael Jaramillo. He certainly was tired coming through the lane, crossing the six-furlong mark in 1:08.97, but he showed plenty of grit to hold safe Candip and win by 1 1/4 lengths in 1:15.95 for 6 1/2 furlongs on the fast main track.

“He likes a challenge,” Navarro said.

Candip finished 1 1/2 lengths in front of third-place Ready for Rye. Griff was fourth and was followed by Grand Bili, Trouble Kid, and Viva Majorca in the field of seven. Brothersofthetime was scratched.

“That was my biggest worry, breaking out of the gate,” Navarro said. “We’ll have to work on that before we go to Dubai.”

Navarro said X Y Jet would leave on March 15, 11 days before the Golden Shaheen. Navarro said he would travel to Dubai a couple of days before X Y Jet so he could be there for X Y Jet’s arrival.

Navarro said the cutback from 6 1/2 furlongs to six for the Golden Shaheen will be in X Y Jet’s favor.

“No doubt,” he said. “I’ve just got to keep him happy now. I’m not planning to do much with him.”

X Y Jet, 4, is a gelding by Kantharos. Gary Hartunian’s Rockingham Ranch acquired a majority interest in X Y Jet prior to this race from his prior owner, Gelfenstein Farm, which retained a minority interest. Hartunian lives in Southern California and has horses with trainer Peter Miller, and there is the strong possibility that X Y Jet will go to Miller after he races in Dubai.

• Earlier Saturday, Manhattan Dan ($6.80) led from start to finish when scoring a 5 1/4-length victory in the $75,000 Texas Glitter, a five-furlong grass sprint for 3-year-olds. Noholdingback Bear was second and Monster Bea third. Gary Contessa trains the son of Big Brown. Javier Castellano was up. He sped five furlongs on firm turf in 54.97 seconds.