The vile Jorge Navarro is back in the news. The animal abuser is to be sentenced this month for his part in a doping ring that resulted in various federal indictments in 2020. He faces up to five years in prison and possible deportation. Last week, his defense presented reams of character references from family, friends, and, most despicably, racing people. Several focused on his relationship with the dead X Y Jet.
Veterinarian Joel Lugo: “Because of his delicate knee conditions [surgeries in both ’15 and ’17], [X Y Jet] stayed in Ocala for a few months of the year…to rest and rehab. We never discussed the use of any illegal or unethical treatment with him or with any of the other horses. The horse return [sic] to race when we though [sic] the horse was healthy and ready. There was never any pressure from Navarro or the owners. We even discussed his retirement on multiple occasions.” (Paulick Report)
Lugo: “[He] always considered the health and well-being of his horses. Decisions and treatments were made as animal lovers and not for any financial considerations or personal ambitions. I remember the day when X Y Jet passed away [passed away?]. Jorge called me crying…. I know [he] was devastated because he truly loved [him].” (Thoroughbred Daily News)
Navarro’s mother-in-law, Cindy Harries: “That horse loved Jorge; I mean I never seen anything like it. That horse was mean with everyone and not easy to deal with. When X Y Jet died walking in the shed row [yeah, just died walking – at the age of seven] after a routine gallop, a part of Jorge died too.” (Paulick) Meanwhile, former jockey Rene Douglas wrote about Navarro’s “care as a horseman and character as a person.”
And here is what Navarro himself said when he announced X Y’s death in Jan 2020:
“With deep regret, I am sorry to notify you that X Y Jet died this morning as a result of a heart attack. X Y Jet was more than a horse on my trained list, it [not ‘he’] was the one that took us through a wonderful and exciting roller coaster of emotions. He always fought against adversity and despite the injuries that affected him during his career, he always brought out that kind of champion he was.
“Beyond the racetracks, XY Jet becomes [sic] part of my family, was like the older brother of my children and of course, that affection extended to all those who in one way or another related to this swift, mood [sic], but noble racehorse.
“Since his arrival at my stable, I immediately felt that connection with him, which remained until today and will surely remain with me until the day of my departure. I owe X Y Jet so much, that I’m sure there are no words that can specify my thanks to his nobility and class. I do not say goodbye to a horse, I say goodbye to a friend that I will carry forever in my heart. Keep running fast to your next destination X Y Jet.”
And here is what the indictment said:
“[JORGE] NAVARRO and others administered several adulterated and misbranded PEDs to XY Jet prior to both the February 13 race in Florida and the March 30 race in Dubai. On or about February 9, 2019, NAVARRO and MARCOS ZULUETA had a telephone conversation in which they discussed NAVARRO’S need for a particular customized analgesic PED, referred to as a ‘blocker.’ NAVARRO specified that the PED was for administration to XY Jet, and ZULUETA agreed to supply that PED via an overnight shipment.
“NAVARRO further attempted to source additional PEDs for XY Jet…including additional doses of a ‘blocker’ PED. On February 10, NAVARRO wrote to OAKES: ‘Do u have any of that new block that dr makes [?],’ and in subsequent calls between NAVARRO and OAKES, OAKES agreed to procure and deliver the ‘blocker’ PED to NAVARRO in advance of XY Jet’s February 13 race.
“On or about February 11, NAVARRO complained to ZULUETA about XY Jet’s performance in a pre-competition run…. NAVARRO and OAKES discussed a plan to secretly introduce a bottle of the ‘blocker’ into the stable where XY Jet was being held prior to the February 13 race. OAKES confirmed that he would smuggle that PED into the racetrack and meet NAVARRO once inside.
“On or about February 13, the day of the Florida race, NAVARRO instructed OAKES to visit XY Jet to administer the PED, and to lie to racing officials if necessary to access the racehorse: ‘Drive through. If anything, if they stop you, you are an owner and you come to Navarro’s barn.’
“On or about March 22, while in the UAE with XY Jet, NAVARRO personally administered various adulterated and misbranded PEDs to XY Jet, including a substance NAVARRO referred to as ‘monkey.’ During an April 3 call between NAVARRO and MARCOS ZULUETA, the two discussed, among other things, NAVARRO’s administration of PEDs to XY Jet in the weeks leading up to, and on the day of, the race in Dubai, and NAVARRO explained: ‘I gave it to him through 50 injections. I gave it to him through the mouth.’
“Following XY Jet’s victory in Dubai, SETH FISHMAN [a veterinarian who was also indicted] congratulated NAVARRO on the win via text message, and NAVARRO replied, in part and among other things, ‘Thank u boss u are a big part of it.'”
To recap:
Navarro: “He always fought against adversity and despite the injuries that affected him during his career, he always brought out that kind of champion he was.”
FBI: “NAVARRO and OAKES discussed a plan to secretly introduce a bottle of the ‘blocker’ into the stable where XY Jet was being held prior to the February 13 race.”
Navarro: “Beyond the racetracks, XY Jet becomes [sic] part of my family, was like the older brother of my children.”
FBI: “NAVARRO instructed OAKES to visit XY Jet to administer the PED, and to lie to racing officials if necessary to access the racehorse.”
Navarro: “[I] immediately felt that connection with him, which remained until today and will surely remain with me until the day of my departure.”
FBI: “NAVARRO personally administered various adulterated and misbranded PEDs to XY Jet, including a substance NAVARRO referred to as ‘monkey.'”
Navarro: “I do not say goodbye to a horse, I say goodbye to a friend that I will carry forever in my heart. Keep running fast to your next destination X Y Jet.”
FBI: “‘I gave it to him through 50 injections. I gave it to him through the mouth.'”
Again, Jorge Navarro is an obscenity and deserves not a whit of sympathy.
The stuff that is written to defend this cold-blooded killer of horses is nauseating. It might be slightly more difficult for him to manipulate people to do his bidding as a hands-off and unlicensed trainer if or when he is in prison. There were millions of dollars involved in enhancing the performance of racehorses with adulterated and mislabeled illegal drugs. Look up “diabolical” and you will find the definition of the character of Jorge Navarro! Five years in prison is not long enough for this cold-hearted, ruthless dope dealer and horse-abusing, horse-killing money grubber! It’s more about his violations of the laws regarding the use and misuse of drugs, especially illegal drugs, and cheating $2 bettors than it is about abusing and deliberately causing the deaths of racehorses.
Thank-you for this post and for the accurate and true information contained herein.
Jorge Navarro operated with reckless irresponsible malicious and intentional harm to racehorses.
He plunged many harmful chemicals into their veins, joints, muscles and wherever else he could find a crevice.
He knew that he was risking their lives and many resulted in kills.
I’m so disturbed and saddened by X Y JET and he deserves special mention here.
X Y Jet was a beautiful dappled grey gelding who ran his ass-off for these ungrateful sub-human parasitic scum bags and that includes his owners Rockingham Ranch who have repeated highly suspicious deaths of racehorses that usually result in equine insurance payouts.
The person hiding behind his ranch name is owner Gary Hartunian who is just as evil as his “trainer” abuser and killer Jorge Navarro and who would send such an amazing champion racehorse to a known doper and abuser?
Well, he pretty much condoned the use of multiple harmful drugs into this poor racehorse and as I’m looking over some of his win photos X Y Jet has his tongue hanging out and he’s barely hanging on probably a result of the many drugs that he plunged into him.
His tongue hanging out down to his knees is not natural nor is anything these scum bags do to them.
I don’t think that this was any different when it came to X Y Jet and I think he was intentionally killed.
X Y Jet made over 3 million dollars and that STILL wasn’t enough to secure a soft landing and a well-earned retirement that he so deserved.
Deport Jorge Navarro and put him on a plane out of this country and far away from any racehorse or any living creature for that matter.
Deporting him is kind because really he should be in prison for years.
Deporting he will still be “free”. And will he be able to set up shop somewhere else and be right back in business. Beautiful XYJet in the meantime free of abuse beyond comprehension.
Love how you interchanged what The Juice Man said publicly about “his beloved” XY Jet, versus what Federal investigators heard him say, Patrick.
It sounds so awfully familiar, though. Domestic abusers and predators generally claim to “love” those whom they harm.
So I think the only question remaining is WHICH horse-killing tracks and racing jurisdictions will welcome him back after he’s served his prison time. Besides Puerto Rico, my money’s on the Florida, Arizona and New Mexico hellholes — unless maybe the hilariously-titled HISA steps in to make sure they can’t;)
He is a bad guy, a criminal, a horse killer who got away with his criminal activity while the fine upstanding people in racing along with the fans looked the other way. He was praised and accommodated while the money flowed… Disgusting people in an equally disgusting business.
I wonder how Medina Spirit’s death will be explained!!?
Thank you, Patrick, for this detailed and very informative reporting. X Y Jet not only suffered the usual horrors of horse racing, he was further transported across the globe and was treated like a dog/monkey/rat in a laboratory, with drugs, upon drugs forced into him. Everyone who had a hand in X Y Jet’s suffering and killing, and those who supported this piece of filth are miscreants of the worst kind, who exploit and pound others into the ground all to make profits. They are absolutely the poster monsters for this business. I hope the judge overseeing this case sees through the human waste offered as testimonials and sentences him to the fullest extent possible, even more if it is so lawful. I am so disgusted, angry, and saddened by all this–of course that’s how I feel about every horse abused by the Navarros and their enablers of this world.
It is my fondest wish that horse racing will be put out of business and no more of these horses will br bred to suffer and die for human greed.
Nothing but tears and frustration.This beautiful animal….
Three years of pushing,pushing.
These horses know everything that is happening to them.It’s the humans that need to be trained.Their punishment for animal abuse should be running furloughs.
Sorry I despise humanity.May Medina run wild in her life from today onward.
I hope will my heart that these horses are tested monthly for steroids on a mandatory basis.
It’s been said that you can judge the heart of a man by his treatment of animals. Quite a reveal into the lack of this sadist’s soul.