X Y Jet will attempt to win his second Mr. Prospector Stakes (G3) at Gulfstream Park when lining up in Saturday’s $100,000 event against nine rivals.
The Jorge Navarro trainee actually earned his first stakes victory when capturing the 2015 edition of the six-furlong race by 9 1/4 lengths. It was part of a five-race win streak X Y Jet compiled that also included the 2016 Sunshine Millions Sprint and Gulfstream Park Sprint Stakes (G3). The Kantharos gelding then shipped overseas to Meydan for a neck second in the Dubai Golden Shaheen (UAE-G1).
X Y Jet would compete just twice more following that high-level effort, running fifth in the Vosburgh Stakes (G1) and third in the Frank J. De Francis Memorial Dash last out in November 2016. Regular rider Emisael Jaramillo has the call on the five-year-old.
Stablemate Fire Mission is riding a four-race win streak into the Mr. Prospector, which will be his 60th lifetime start. The Wildcat Heir gelding was claimed at the beginning of the year and immediately scored in the Trust Buster Starter Stakes for his new connections. Tyler Gaffalione had piloting duties most recently on November 26 at Gulfstream Park West and stays aboard for Fire Mission’s step up in class.
First Growth makes his graded bow for trainer Odin Londono Jr. in this spot after most recently taking the December 2 Claiming Crown Express over track and distance by 3 1/2 lengths. The five-year-old gelding finished first in six straight races, including the Senator Robert C. Byrd Memorial Stakes, but was disqualified in the last two. Gerardo Corrales has the call Saturday.
Duel stakes hero Sonic Mule is 3-2-0-1 at Gulfstream, but has won just once from seven starts this year. The Todd Pletcher sophomore enters here under John Velazquez off a third in the City of Laurel Stakes on November 11. Fast Friar earned a 101 BRIS Speed rating for missing by only a head in the John J. Reilly Handicap while making his stakes bow in late July. The four-year-old gelding gets Nik Juarez aboard.
Quijote and Sweetontheladies were one-two, respectively, in the Million Sprint Preview Stakes at Gulfstream Park West last out on November 11, and square off in this spot once again. The former also won the Big Drama Stakes two races before the Million Sprint Preview while the latter earned his first top-three finish since scoring in the Crystal River Handicap in early June. Jose Batista has the return call on Quijote while Leonel Reyes also returns to Sweetontheladies’ saddle.
K Wave makes his stakes debut in this spot for trainer Ben Colebrook while boasting just four lifetime starts. The Blame sophomore broke his maiden at first asking by 5 3/4 lengths on August 16 at Indiana Grand, finished ninth against allowance rivals at Churchill Downs in mid-September, and placed second against similar over Churchill’s grass and in an off-the-turf contest at Indiana Grand in his past pair. Albin Jimenz will be holding the reins for the first time on the bay Florida-bred here.
Yourdreamsormine has failed to hit the board in three stakes attempts this year but is no stranger to winning at that level over Gulfstream’s track. The five-year-old son of Mr. Sekiguchi will make just his second start for new trainer Elizabeth Dobles in this spot and gets the services of jockey Luis Saez.
Quinientos is stakes-placed this fall and making his first start for new trainer Alfredo Ronso here. The Sky Mesa sophomore gelding will be piloted by Miguel Vasquez.
