Third Time the Charm in Golden Shaheen for X Y Jet

After a pair of runner-up finishes by X Y Jet in previous editions of the $2.5 million Dubai Golden Shaheen Sponsored by Gulf News (G1)—including a heartbreaking loss when late-running Mind Your Biscuits caught him last year—the veteran sprinter would not be denied.

Rocketing out of the gate to a quick advantage under Emisael Jaramillo in the 1,200-meter (about six-furlong) dirt test March 30 at Meydan, X Y Jet enjoyed a clear lead early while racing inside, with Matera Sky tracking him and two-time grade 1 winner Imperial Hint saving ground behind the leader.

Matera Sky put X Y Jet to the test coming out of the turn, but the gutsy 7-year-old son of Kantharos  dug in to put away that challenge, then held sway through the stretch to score by 1 1/2 lengths. Matera Sky turned back a late charge by Raymond Mamone's Imperial Hint, who was moved into the clear in the stretch by jockey Jose Ortiz but settled for third.

Trainer Jorge Navarro, who has nursed Rockingham Ranch and Gelfenstein Farm's X Y Jet back from knee surgery three times, was emotional after Saturday's victory, the 13th time a U.S.-based horse has won the Golden Shaheen. 

"To do what he's done after those three knee surgeries? Wow," Navarro said. "To come to Dubai and prove to the world that he belongs here is pretty amazing. Three times he's shown up."

In 2018, X Y Jet appeared to be home free until Mind Your Biscuits, who also won the Golden Shaheen in 2017, launched a late rally to edge him by a head. In 2016, X Y Jet finished second by a neck to Muarrab. Saturday's victory is the first at the top level for X Y Jet, who hadn't raced since winning a Feb. 13 optional-claiming allowance race in the slop at Gulfstream Park.

"I brought him here fresh, and the way he was being a bad boy the past three days, I was wondering if he was too fresh," Navarro said. "Today I wasn't sure he was going to make it to the race, but he was just fresh."

Three U.S.-based horses in the race—X Y Jet, Imperial Hint, and grade 1 winner Promises Fulfilled—finished in the top four spots.

Two-time TwinSpires Breeders' Cup Sprint (G1) winner Roy H was scratched a few days before the race with an abscess in his left front. Rockingham Ranch is a co-owner of Roy H as well, so the victory by X Y Jet helped ease that disappointment.

Brian Trump, operations manager for Gary Hartunian's Rockingham Ranch, said X Y Jet has been Navarro's baby.

"It's not been easy to train this horse, but Jorge has had tremendous patience with him," Trump said. "It's a perfect story."

Bred in Florida by Didier Plasencia out of the Lost Soldier mare Soldiersingsblues, X Y Jet was purchased for $56,000 by Antonio Sano from Two Sharp Hats' consignment to the 2013 Ocala Breeders' Sales August Yearling Sale.