Frosted, Texas Red Head Jim Dandy Works

Godolphin Stable's Frosted put in his final work July 25 before the $600,000 Jim Dandy (gr. II) to be run Aug. 1 at Saratoga Race Course, going four furlongs in 47.91 over the main track at the upstate New York oval under exercise rider Rob Massey.

The work was the fourth at Saratoga for the Tapit   colt, winner of the TwinSpires.com Wood Memorial (gr. I), since his runner-up finish to Triple Crown champion American Pharoah in the June 6 Belmont Stakes presented by DraftKings (gr. I).

"We were planning to work him in company, but the company couldn't keep up. It got him going, anyway," trainer Kiaran McLaughlin said. "He worked great. We were pleased. He galloped out strong and kept going."

Frosted also finished fourth behind American Pharoah in the Kentucky Derby Presented by Yum! Brands (gr. I). American Pharoah is scheduled to make his next start in the Aug. 2 William Hill Haskell Invitational (gr. I) at Monmouth Park.

"We're happy where we are and happier that American Pharoah isn't going to show up this time," McLaughlin said. "I'm sure there's others out there that will be tough enough competition. Everything's all set."

According to NYRA stakes coordinator Andrew Byrnes, other horses pointing to the Jim Dandy are Frammento, who breezed a :48.33 bullet on the Oklahoma training track July 24, Japan, Materiality, Upstart, and Texas Red. Keen Ice and Tekton are possible.

The upset winner of the Sentient Jet Breeders' Cup Juvenile (gr. I) last fall, Texas Red breezed five furlongs on the main track in :59.92 under jockey Junior Alvarado Saturday morning. The 3-year-old Afleet Alex   colt has been second in each of his 2015 starts for trainer Keith Desormeaux, the San Vicente Stakes (gr. II) and Dwyer Stakes (gr. III).

Grade II winner Upstart was also on the main track Saturday morning, putting in his first timed work over that surface in anticipation of a possible start in the Jim Dandy. Under exercise rider Rodney Payne, the 3-year-old Flatter   ridgling went five furlongs in :59.89 under the watchful eye of trainer Rick Violette.

"He looked excellent," Violette said. "He went the last eighth in :12 flat, and I don't think the track is all that fast; it hasn't been in the morning. He was exceptional." 

Ralph Evans and WinStar Farm's Upstart hasn't raced since finishing last of 18 Kentucky Derby May 2. He was given a short break before posting four works at Aqueduct Racetrack between June 30 and July 17 prior to coming to Saratoga.

"He's been perfect. We gave him a few weeks off at the farm and he hasn't missed a beat since coming back," Violette said. "Whatever happened in the Derby stays in the Derby, because he didn't run. He didn't pick up his feet."

With the blessing of his owners, Violette skipped both the Xpressbet.com Preakness Stakes (gr. I) and the Belmont to point for a summer campaign that could lead to a date in the $1.25 million Travers (gr. I) Aug. 29.

"Maybe the winter got to him. I don't know, but he cooled out today like he just went to school in the paddock," Violette said. "We kind of gave him a few weeks just because we weren't going to run back in the Preakness off that effort and also weren't going to run back in the Belmont, because if you're wrong, you can end a horse. We did the right thing and hopefully it pays dividends."

Todd Pletcher sent out both Besilu Stables Florida Derby (gr. I) winner Materiality and Peter Pan Stakes (gr. II) winner Madefromlucky in company Saturday morning. The duo went four furlongs in :48.85 on the main track. While Materiality will target the Jim Dandy, Madefromlucky is likely to race on the same day in the West Virginia Derby (gr. II).

"The 50 yards of it that I could see, they looked good," Pletcher said wryly of the team drill, which was obscured by a dense fog.