Indictment Details Doping of Navarro Trainee X Y Jet

The indictment released by the United States District Court March 9 that charges 27 individuals, including trainers Jorge Navarro and Jason Servis, on doping charges in horse racing includes a section detailing the doping of Navarro trainee X Y Jet, who died of an apparent heart attack in early January.

Under a section of the indictment titled "Doping X Y Jet," the indictment states that Navarro and others administered several adulterated and misbranded performance enhancing drugs designed to evade drug tests to X Y Jet prior to the gelding's victories in a Feb. 13, 2019 allowance optional claiming race at Gulfstream Park, and the March 30, 2019 Dubai Golden Shaheen Sponsored by Gulf News (G1) at Meydan.

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According to the indictment, Navarro and Marcos Zulueta, another defendant, spoke via telephone on or about Feb. 9, 2019 and discussed Navarro's need for a particular customized PED referred to as a "blocker" that would be administered to X Y Jet. Zulueta agreed to supply the PED by an overnight shipment.

The indictment adds that Navarro attempted to source additional PEDs, including additional doses of the blocker, from Christopher Oakes and veterinarian Gregory Skelton, both of whom are also listed as defendants. On Feb. 10, 2019, Navarro wrote to Oakes: "Do u have any of that new block the dr makes(?)" Oakes agreed to procure and deliver the blocker to Navarro before X Y Jet's upcoming race.

The following day Navarro complained about X Y Jet's performance in a pre-competition run to Zulueta and informed him that he had worked with Oakes to obtain the blocker for the horse. Navarro and Oakes formed a plan to secretly introduce a bottle of the blocker into the barn where X Y Jet was located before the allowance optional claiming race at Gulfstream. Oakes confirmed he would smuggle the blocker into the racetrack and meet Navarro once inside.

On or about race day, Navarro instructed Oakes to visit X Y Jet to administer the blocker and, if necessary, lie to racing officials in order to access the horse.

"Drive through. If anything, if they stop you, you are an owner and you come to Navarro's barn," Navarro instructed Oakes.

The indictment also notes that on or about March 22, 2019, just over a week out from the Dubai Golden Shaheen, Navarro was in the United Arab Emirates with X Y Jet and personally administered various adulterated and misbranded PEDs to the horse, including a substance Navarro called "monkey."

The indictment said that substance, erythropoietin (Epogen or EPO), a blood-builder and its analogues can increase cardiac exertion and pressure and lead to cardiac issues including death.

Navarro and Zulueta discussed during an April 3, 2019 Navarro's administration of PEDs to X Y Jet in the weeks leading up to and on the day of the Golden Shaeen, in which Navarro said: "I gave it to him through 50 injections. I gave it to him through the mouth."

Following X Y Jet's Golden Shaheen victory, defendant and veterinarian Seth Fishman, who allegedly manufactured and shipped illegally misbranded and adulterated PEDs developed in a facility not registered with the Food and Drug Administration to manufacture and compound new animal drugs, texted Navarro to congratulate the trainer.

Navarro replied, in part: "Thank u boss u are a big part of it."

BloodHorse was unable to reach Navarro for comment.

Navarro announced Jan. 8 that X Y Jet, who was 8 this year, died from a heart attack. X Y Jet entered Navarro's care at the end of 2014. He was campaigned by Gelfenstein Farm throughout his 26-race career and Rockingham Ranch took part ownership of the horse in 2016. In X Y Jet's final race, the Dec. 21, seven-furlong Mr. Prospector Stakes (G3) at Gulfstream in which he raced for Gelfenstein Farm, Rockingham Ranch, and David Bernsen, the gelding finished last of six after leading the first half-mile in :43.85.

The multiple stakes-winning Florida-bred (Kantharos —Soldiersingblues, by Lost Soldier) compiled over $3 million. He earned $1.5 million from winning the Golden Shaheen, which offered a $2.5 million purse.