Zandon Makes First Appearance at Saratoga

Jeff Drown's Zandon  took his first Saratoga steps toward the July 30 $600,000 Jim Dandy Stakes (G2) when he worked four furlongs in :48 3/5 July 16 on the main track at Saratoga Race Course.

With trainer Chad Brown's longtime exercise rider Kriss Bon aboard, Zandon worked alone. Brown watched from the frontside.

"The horse worked super," Brown said back at his barn on the Oklahoma Training Track. "Just wanted to get him to stretch his legs."

Zandon was last seen finishing third in the Kentucky Derby Presented by Woodford Reserve (G1) at Churchill Downs May 7.

By design, Brown wanted to give some time off to the son of Upstart  . He did not consider running Zandon in the 1½-mile Belmont Stakes Presented by NYRA Bets (G1) at Belmont Park, preferring a summer campaign.

The Jim Dandy and the Runhappy Travers (G1) on Aug. 27 are the goals.

"I am really pleased with him," Brown said. "He has put some weight on, he really looks better than ever right now. Our plan was to just get him over the track and give him a good feel for it. He could not have went any better."

Brown's other high-caliber 3-year-olds—Klaravich Stables' Early Voting  and Jack Christopher , owned by Jim Bakke, Gerald Isbister, Coolmore Stud, and Peter Brant—also worked July 16 at Belmont.

Early Voting, the Preakness Stakes (G1) winner, went four furlongs in :49.25, and Jack Christopher, unbeaten in four career starts, was timed in :49.80.

Jack Christopher is slated to run in the $1 million TVG.com Haskell Stakes (G1) at Monmouth Park July 23. Brown has said he was leaning toward running Early Voting in the Jim Dandy. 

Brown, on July 16, said he would make a final decision on Early Voting July 17 after talking with Seth Klarman, who runs Klaravich.