Sandman Works on Grass, Targets Nashville Derby

With the Triple Crown in the rearview mirror and Sovereignty , Journalism , and Baeza  separating themselves from the rest of the crop, it's a perfect time for other sophomore runners to try something new.

That's the case for Hall of Fame trainer Mark Casse and Arkansas Derby (G1) winner Sandman , who recorded a breeze on grass for the first time Aug. 10 at the Oklahoma Training Track at Saratoga Race Course. His first work since finishing fifth to Sovereignty and Baeza in the July 26 Jim Dandy Stakes (G2), Casse was pleased and has added the $3.5 million Nashville Derby Invitational (G3T) at Kentucky Downs Aug. 30 to his radar.

"I think the Jim Dandy just showed, right now, that those horses are better than us," Casse said. "I think it's a good time to do it. ... (Jockey) Jose (Ortiz) and I talked about it many times. We felt like he would like the turf just by the way he runs, and I think he did."

The son of Tapit   is out of the winning Distorted Humor mare Distorted Music . Sandman's Bernardini half sister, She Can't Sing , won a trio of stakes on the turf in addition to a grade 3 win on dirt.

Ortiz's presence upon the horse was a last-minute substitution as Sandman's regular rider, Reynaldo Dumont, was sick. Casse said he rarely texts Ortiz directly and assumed his message requesting a phone call early in the morning caught him by surprise. He was right.

"I had to think for a little bit, thinking about what I did wrong yesterday," Ortiz joked. "But we won (an allowance race) with Little Ni."

Ortiz placed the call and accepted the offer to ride Sandman for his first work on the turf.

The colt was keyed up upon his arrival to the surface. Stabled directly next to Saratoga's main track, walking across the street to the Oklahoma was a new experience. Designed to be an easy move to get him accustomed to the new ground, Sandman clocked four furlongs in :49.70 and was a handful for Ortiz to bring to a stop.

"It just seems like he was having fun out there," Ortiz said. "Seemed like he liked it. ... I asked him a little bit and he was there for me, so that's good. You want to have that reaction when you ask them on the turf, have a little turn of foot."

"I thought he looked great," Casse said. "I had told Jose to drop his head a little and cluck to him and see if he would pick it up. Jose said he didn't have to, he said he went really well, and then he wouldn't pull up. So, I think he likes it."

Sandman will get a tougher challenge on the turf in next weekend's breeze now that his introduction to the surface has been made. Should all go well, then Sandman will march on to Kentucky Downs for the 1 5/16-mile Nashville Derby, a distance Casse is confident the colt will like.

Through 11 starts on dirt, Sandman has a record of 3-1-3 for earnings of $1,494,595. Bred by Lothenbach Stables, he was a $1.2 million purchase at the 2024 Ocala Breeders' March Sale of 2-Year-Olds in Training by West Point Thoroughbreds, D. J. Stable, and CJ Stables. They are joined in ownership by St. Elias Stable.