X Y Jet works five furlongs in Smile Sprint prep

X Y Jet had trainer Jorge Navarro brimming with confidence after working five furlongs from the gate in 59.60 Saturday at Monmouth Park in preparation for his upcoming start in the Grade 3 Smile Sprint at Gulfstream Park on June 30.

“I was thrilled with the way he worked this morning, and happy with the way he came back,” Navarro said. “He’s ready for the race.”

Saturday’s work was the fifth for X Y Jet, all at Monmouth, since his frustrating second-place finish behind Mind Your Biscuits in the Group 1 Dubai Golden Shaheen at Meydan on March 31.

X Y Jet will be heavily favored to win the six-furlong Sprint over a track on which he’s won five races in a row, including the Sunshine Millions Sprint by 5 1/2 lengths earlier this year. X Y Jet will ship to South Florida on Tuesday.

Two of X Y Jet’s chief rivals in the Smile also had their final tune-ups Saturday. Classic Rock sizzled four furlongs in 45.77 at Gulfstream Park for trainer Kathy Ritvo, while Chief Cicatriz breezed the same distance in 48.20 at Churchill Downs.

The Smile will share top billing on next Saturday’s Summit of Speed program along with the Grade 2 Princess Rooney, a “Win and You’re In” race for the Breeders’ Cup Filly and Mare Sprint.

Among those expected to challenge defending champion Curlin’s Approval in the Princess Rooney are Ms. Locust Point and She Takes Heart, both of whom also worked Saturday. Ms Locust Point, who shipped in to Palm Meadows earlier this month to prepare for the Princess Rooney, went five furlongs in 1:00 while She Takes Heart continued to impress in the morning, zipping four furlongs from the gate in 45.88 at Gulfstream for trainer Peter Walder.

Entries for the entire Summit of Speed program will be drawn Wednesday.