Navarro tabs 2-for-2 winner 'the best horse I've ever trained'

Trainer Jorge Navarro didn’t mince any words after Shancelot blazed six furlongs in 1:08.43 – the fastest time for that distance so far during the Monmouth Park meeting – in his second career start on Sunday.

“The best horse I’ve ever trained,” said the New Jersey track’s leading trainer.

The 3-year-old son of Shanghai Bobby did it all on his own, too, cruising through fractions of :22.16 and :44.56 in posting a 6 ¼-length victory in the second race on the card, a $47,500 optional claiming event.

Un-raced at 2, Shancelot made his debut by winning a maiden special weight race at Gulfstream Park on Feb. 16, beating Kentucky Derby starter and Florida Derby runner-up Bodexpress. He clocked in at 1:22.15 for that seven-furlong race.

Navarro called that “probably the best maiden special weight race of the meet.”

In addition to beating Bodexpress that day, Shancelot also defeated Forth Worth, who won a maiden race at Aqueduct by 6 ¾ lengths in his next start, and Bandon Woods, who came back to score at Keeneland by three lengths.

Only one other horse has clocked a sub-1:09 for six furlongs at the current meet: the Navarro-trained Li’l J, who went in 1:08.92 on May 27. The track record for the distance is 1:07.47, set by Idiot Proof on July 4, 2007.

Navarro said he would likely keep Shancelot sprinting.