Riyadh Dirt Sprint in Cards for Shancelot

Breeders' Cup Sprint (G1) runner-up Shancelot is being pointed to the $1.5 million Riyadh Dirt Sprint Feb. 29 on the Saudi Cup undercard toward a possible clash with defending champ and stablemate X Y Jet in the March 28 Dubai Golden Shaheen (G1) at Meydan, trainer Jorge Navarro told Gulfstream Park publicity. 

Both Shancelot and X Y Jet are likely to prep at Gulfstream Park during the 2019-2020 championship meet that begins Nov. 29. The latter, unraced since last spring's Golden Shaheen, has been breezing since October and worked five furlongs in 1:00 at Palm Meadows Training Center in South Florida Nov. 22.

Shancelot, a 3-year-old son of Shanghai Bobby owned by Crawford Farms Racing, has proven to be one of the top sprinters of 2019 in his age division and outside it. He captured the Amsterdam Stakes (G2) at Saratoga Race Course by 12 1/2 lengths in his third start before finishing third in the H. Allen Jerkens Stakes (G1) there and second against older horses in both the Santa Anita Sprint Championship Stakes (G1) and Breeders' Cup Sprint at Santa Anita Park.

Video: Breeders' Cup Sprint (G1)

"He's one of the cleanest horses I've every trained. The speed he has, this little horse, it's just amazing what he does," Navarro said. "He comes back after his races like he's done nothing."

Navarro, a 44-year-old native of Panama City, snapped Todd Pletcher's 15-year championship meet reign at Gulfstream Park this past April to claim the 2018-2019 training title.

"It meant a lot. The meet has always been a prestigious meet with well-known trainers from all over the United States and top quality of horses," the trainer said. "Being a trainer from South Florida, watching those guys building their reputations, and seeing what they've done over the years, to win it was amazing."

Navarro had to celebrate his 53-47 decision over Pletcher from afar, having traveled to Dubai to see X Y Jet's triumph in the $2.5 million Dubai Golden Shaheen at Meydan. 

Now the trainer is gearing up for a defense of his title during the 2019-2020 championship meet that begins Friday, fresh off his seventh consecutive training title at Monmouth Park. Stabled at both Gulfstream Park West and Palm Meadows, he is confident that a title defense is within the realm of possibility.

"I feel very good about it," he said.