X Y Jet, Curlin's Approval top Summit of Speed nominations

Alter Racing Stables and Bridlewood Farm’s Curlin’s Approval and Rockingham Ranch and Gelfenstein Farm’s X Y Jet are among a long list of graded-stakes winners nominated to five stakes on the June 30 Summit of Speed program at Gulfstream Park.

Curlin’s Approval tops 23 nominees for the $250,000 Princess Rooney (G2), a seven-furlong sprint for fillies and mares with a Breeders’ Cup ‘Win and You’re In’ designation. The 5-year-old daughter of Curlin, who captured the Princess Rooney by 4 ½ lengths last year, is scheduled to defend her title and seek a fees-paid berth in the $1 million Breeders’ Cup Filly & Mare Sprint at Churchill Downs Nov. 3.

The Happy Alter-trained homebred captured three graded stakes in 2017, the Hurricane Bertie (G3) and Princess Rooney at seven furlongs, as well as the Royal Delta (G2) at 1 1/16 miles. Winless in three graded-stakes during the 2017-2018 Championship Meet, the Kentucky-bred mare prepped for the Princess Rooney with a commanding three-length triumph in the June 3 Ana T. Stakes at Gulfstream.

Ivy Bell, owned by China Horse Club International, Madaket Stables and Mathis Stable, is also prominent on the list of Princess Rooney nominations, having finished second in back-to-back Grade 1 stakes after capturing the $200,000 Inside Information (G2) at Gulfstream March 17. The Todd Pletcher-trained 5-year-old mare finished second behind American Gal in the May 6 Humana Distaff at Churchill and behind Abel Tasman in the June 9 Ogden Phipps at Belmont.

The Pletcher-trained My Miss Tapit, who is owned by the Mathis Stable, has also been nominated to the Princess Rooney after returning from an eight-month layoff to capture an April 14 optional claiming allowance by more than six lengths at Gulfstream, where she is undefeated in three starts.

Ms Locust Point, a multiple-stakes winner owned by Jim Reichenberg and Cash is King LLC, boasts Grade 2 credentials, having won the $300,000 Barbara Fritchie (G2) at Laurel this year.

Ruis Racing’s Union Strike and Rick and Sharon Waller’s Spectator are Princess Rooney nominees with West Coast Grade 1 credentials. The Rick Ruis-trained Union Strike captured the 2016 Del Mar Debutante (G1), while the Philip D’Amato-trained Spectator finished second behind Midnight Bijou in the Santa Anita Oaks (G1).

Kent Spellman’s Kirby’s Penny enters the Princess Rooney off four wins in her last five starts. Trainer Ron Moquett nominated three 4-year-old fillies, including graded stakes-placed Torrent and Treble, as well as multiple stakes-winning Swing and Sway. West Rock Stables owns Swing and Sway and Torrent, while Rialito Racing Stables and Southern Springs Stables own Treble.

X Y Jet is scheduled to make his first start since finishing second in the Dubai Golden Shaheen (G1) March 31 at Meydan in the seven-furlong Smile. The 6-year-old gelding, who tops 16 Smile nominations, was leading in deep stretch, only to be headed by Mind Your Biscuits, Prior to his Dubai journey, the Jorge Navarro trainee won three straight stakes, including the Mr. Prospector (G3) and Sunshine Millions Sprint at Gulfstream.

X Y Jet also finished second behind Muarrab in the 2017 Dubai Golden Shaheen, for which the son of Kantharos prepped with three straight wins at Gulfstream, including the Mr. Prospector, Sunshine Millions Sprint and Gulfstream Park Sprint (G3)

Reeves Thoroughbred Racing’s Classic Rock is also scheduled to bring a strong Gulfstream resume into the Smile Sprint. The Kathy Ritvo-trained 4-year-old has won six of seven starts at his home track, including his last three races. The son of Maclean’s Music followed up a Dec. 20 optional claiming allowance win with a three-length triumph in the March 3 Gulfstream Park Sprint (G3) and a length decision in the May 6 Jeblar Stakes, a 6 ½-furlong prep for the Smile.

West Point Thoroughbreds’ Reason to Soar is undefeated in four starts at Gulfstream Park, including his three most recent races. The George Weaver-trained son of Soaring Empire, who is in training at Palm Beach Downs, also broke his maiden at first asking by 6 ¼ lengths at Gulfstream Feb. 27, 2017 before being stakes-placed twice in New York.

Multiple graded-stakes winner Mr. Jordan had gone winless at Gulfstream in 12 starts before cutting back in distance and scoring a 1 3/4-length victory in the May 12 $100,000 Big Drama Stakes at Gulfstream going seven furlongs. The Eddie Plesa-trained 6-year-old son of Kantharos has won nine of 29 starts and more than $735,000 for owners David Melin, Leon Ellman and Laurie Plesa heading into the Smile Sprint.

Roy Gene Evans’ Chief Cicatriz, who was a multiple-stakes winner in Arizona, broke through with a graded-stakes win in the June 2 Aristides (G3) at Churchill Downs. The Shawn Davis-trained 5-year-old gelded son of Munnings has won eight of 11 career races, including back-to-back victories in the Phoenix Gold Cup at Turf Paradise.

The Princess Rooney and the Smile Sprint will be supported on the Summit of Speed card by the $75,000 Carry Back, a seven-furlong sprint for 3-year-olds, the $75,000 Azalea, a seven-furlong race for 3-year-old fillies, and the $75,000 Bob Umphrey Turf Sprint, a five-furlong turf dash.