X Y Jet takes flight in Mr. Prospector Stakes

HALLANDALE BEACH, Fla. – Trainer Jorge Navarro expected X Y Jet to run a huge race in Saturday’s $100,000 Mr. Prospector, but even he couldn’t have expected his sprint specialist to dominate a strong lineup of older horses as he did, with a 9 1/4-length victory over Grande Shores in the Grade 3 fixture at Gulfstream Park.

X Y Jet, the lone 3-year-old in a field of seven that included the previous two winners of the event, controlled all the pace, opening a 10-length lead turning for home after posting a 44.29-second half-mile split. He then maintained the advantage under steady urging from jockey Emisael Jaramillo to register his third straight victory and the first stakes tally of his career. He did finish third in the Grade 3 Hutcheson here last winter.

Grande Shores rallied from the rear of the pack to finish second, three parts of a length in front of stablemate C. Zee. Defending Mr. Prospector champion Speechify finished a distant fourth, while Stallwalkin’ Dude, the 7-5 favorite, checked home a badly beaten fifth.

X Y Jet, a son of Kantharos, is owned by Gelfenstein Farm LLC. He completed six furlongs in 1:08.56 over the fast track and paid $6.

“We always thought he was a nice horse, but I guess we rushed him into things last year, and he wasn’t prepared to do the things that we’re doing right now,” said Navarro.

Navarro said X Y Jet grabbed a quarter really badly after stumbling at the start of the Swale Stakes here earlier this year, suffering a chip that required surgery.

“We’ve taken our time with him, and that’s what we’re going to do, take our time,” said Navarro. “This is a nice horse, a 3-year-old doing this, beating older horses. Coming out of his last race at [Gulfstream Park West], to run that big, not too many horses win races like that [there], especially 3-year-olds.”