X Y Jet makes statement with Mr. Prospector victory

HALLANDALE BEACH, Fla. - X Y Jet served notice to the other prominent members of the sprint division that he could be a force to reckon with again in 2018 after he withstood a game First Growth to register a half-length victory in Saturday’s Grade 3 Mr. Prospector at Gulfstream Park.

Making his first start in 13 months, and only his third since finishing second in the 2016 Dubai Golden Shaheen, X Y Jet used his abundant speed to set the pace over a main track that favored horses on the lead throughout the day Saturday. First Growth, a former $5,000 claimer and winner of the Claiming Crown Express over this track just three weeks earlier, raced well-placed from the outset of the six-furlong Mr. Prospector and loomed up outside the winner near midstretch, but was not quite good enough while easily second-best.

Sonic Mule finished another four lengths farther back in third.

X Y Jet, a son of Kantharos, is owned by Gary Hartunian and Ivan Rodriguez. He became the first two-time winner in the 63-year history of the Mr. Prospector, having won the race by 9 1/4 lengths two years earlier. X Y Jet is trained by Jorge Navarro and was ridden by Emisael Jaramillo. He paid $5.00 after completing the distance in 1:09.45.

Navarro, who has said all along X Y Jet holds a special place in his heart, got emotional after the race.

“It’s crazy, it’s crazy what I’m going through right now,” Navarro said. “It feels like we’ve both been through the same battles."

Navarro acknowledged that even though X Y Jet was able to win his comeback, he did get tired at the end.

“That was my main concern,” Navarro said. “I felt the only way he loses this race is if he gets tired. I asked myself all the time if he was ready. It’s been over a year since he’s run, and he’s had only two races in two years. That one horse (First Growth), wow! What a job that kid (trainer Odin Londono Jr.) has done with that horse. That’s a stakes horse right there.”

Navarro also served notice to the other members of the sprint division that they will have to watch out for X Y Jet next year.

“We’ll see how he comes out of the race, but if he comes out okay, they’re in trouble,” Navarro said.

Navarro said if all went well, X Y Jet could return in the Sunshine Million Sprint on Jan. 20 with a return trip to Dubai for the Golden Shaheen his first goal at present.