Imperial Hint, X Y Jet Clash in Mr. Prospector

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Imperial Hint, X Y Jet Clash in Mr. Prospector
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Photo: Skip Dickstein
Imperial Hint wins the Alfred G. Vanderbilt Handicap at Saratoga Race Course

Top-class sprinters Imperial Hint and X Y Jet, both Florida-breds, are set to face off in the $100,000 Mr. Prospector Stakes (G3) Dec. 21 at Gulfstream Park.

The seven-furlong feature for 3-year-olds and older marks an important race for both grade/group 1 winners. It will be the first start for Imperial Hint since he was scratched the morning of the Nov. 2 Breeders' Cup Sprint (G1) at Santa Anita Park, and the first start for X Y Jet since winning the March 30 Dubai Golden Shaheen Sponsored by Gulf News (G1).

The pair faced each other in the Golden Shaheen, in which Imperial Hint finished third, two lengths behind X Y Jet.

Raymond Mamone's Imperial Hint entered the Breeders' Cup off repeat victories in the Vosburgh Stakes (G1) at Belmont Park and the Alfred G. Vanderbilt Handicap (G1) at Saratoga Race Course, where he set a track record in that six-furlong test in 1:07.92. During the application of glue-on shoes for the Breeders' Cup, he developed a blister on his coronet band and was scratched by veterinarians.

With the minor issue resolved, the 6-year-old son of Imperialism returned to training with Luis Carvajal Jr. at Tampa Bay Downs. He worked five furlongs Dec. 15 in :59 flat, his third consecutive bullet work since arriving at his winter base in Florida.

"I can't wait to see him race again, even though it's seven-eighths," Carvajal said. "I wish it was three-quarters. He is definitely a specialist going three-quarters, but he won at seven-eighths at Laurel (in the 2017 General George Stakes, G3). I have no doubt he can do seven-eighths."

Imperial Hint won his lone start at Gulfstream in 2017, the Smile Sprint Stakes (G3) at six furlongs.

X Y Jet, a 7-year-old Kantharos  gelding campaigned by Rockingham Ranch, Gelfenstein Farm, and David Bernsen, returned to the work tab in October for trainer Jorge Navarro. He won the Mr. Prospector in 2015 and 2017 and has won half of his 14 starts at the track, placing in five others.

XY Jet and  Emisael Jaramillo win the Dubai Golden Shaheen, Meydan, Dubai, UAE, 3-30-19, photo by Mathea Kelley/Dubai Racing CLub 
Photo: Mathea Kelley/Dubai Racing Club
X Y Jet wins the Dubai Golden Shaheen at Meydan

"He's stretching out and I'm stretching out," Navarro said. X Y Jet, a proven winner at six furlongs, has twice finished second in three tries at seven furlongs.

Saturday's race could serve as a vital prep for a repeat victory in Dubai. The gray horse readied for his return to racing Dec. 16 with a :49.85 half-mile breeze at Palm Meadows Training Center.

"From this race—we'll see how he comes out—our next goal is the Sunshine Millions in January," Navarro said.

Diamond Oops will share the 126-pound top weight with Imperial Hint. The 4-year-old Lookin At Lucky  gelding has won three stakes at Gulfstream, including the June 29 Smile Sprint. He has since run second in the Vanderbilt, rallying to finish four lengths behind Imperial Hint, and showed his talent on turf in the Oct. 5 Shadwell Turf Mile Stakes (G1T) at Keeneland, where he was passed late to finish second, less than a length behind Bowies Hero.

Diamond Oops last ran eighth in the Big Ass Fans Breeders' Cup Dirt Mile (G1). Co-owner Patrick Biancone trains for Diamond 100 Racing Club, Amy Dunne, and D P Racing.

Carrying 124 pounds along with X Y Jet is Gary and Mary West's Lasting Legacy, trained by Jason Servis. The 5-year-old son of Tapizar  has won three consecutive races, including his most recent start in the Sept. 28 Mr. Prospector Stakes—oddly enough at Monmouth Park.

Rounding out the field is LLP Performance Horse's Zenden, a stakes winner on this course a year ago who won his first race back off a seven-month layoff, and Patricia's Hope's last-out winner Home Base.


Entries: Mr. Prospector S. (G3)

Gulfstream Park, Saturday, December 21, 2019, Race 10

  • Grade III
  • 7f
  • Dirt
  • $100,000
  • 3 yo's & up
  • 4:30 PM (local)
PP Horse Jockey Wgt Trainer M/L
1 1Home Base (ON)Keeneland Sales Graduate Chris Landeros 120 Michael A. Tomlinson 20/1
2 2Imperial Hint (FL) Javier Castellano 126 Luis Carvajal, Jr. 1/1
3 3X Y Jet (FL) Emisael Jaramillo 124 Jorge Navarro 7/5
4 4Zenden (KY)Keeneland Sales Graduate John R. Velazquez 118 Todd A. Pletcher 15/1
5 5Lasting Legacy (KY)Keeneland Sales Graduate Irad Ortiz, Jr. 124 Jason Servis 6/1
6 6Diamond Oops (KY)Keeneland Sales Graduate Julien R. Leparoux 126 Patrick L. Biancone 10/1