Compact Field of Five Set for Jim Dandy Stakes

It wasn't all that long ago—the first weekend of May to be exact—that the depth of the sophomore male runners was being hailed as arguably the strongest in recent times. The road to the Kentucky Derby had yielded a monster in the making by the name of Justify, but there were seemingly a slew of accomplished foes who figured to make an impact on the division well beyond the classic season.

The newly retired Justify made good on his awe-inspiring ability, kicking down historical barriers en route to becoming the 13th Triple Crown winner. In his absence, his classmates now face the challenge of living up to their end of the bargain.

Despite its hearty $600,000 purse and the fact juvenile champion Good Magic is slated to run a day later at Monmouth Park, the July 28 Jim Dandy Stakes (G2) at Saratoga Race Course drew just five entrants.

Three Jim Dandy runners have graded stakes wins to their credit, but all are coming into the 1 1/8-mile race aiming to make amends for recent losses. Heading the compact group looking to regain some early season shine is Todd Pletcher trainee Vino Rosso, winner of the Wood Memorial Stakes presented by NYRA Bets (G2) in April.

Owned by Repole Stable and St. Elias Stable, Vino Rosso will be making his first start since finishing fourth to Justify in the Belmont Stakes Presented by NYRA  Bets (G1) June 9. The son of Curlin  has had a mixed bag of results in his seven starts, finishing behind fellow Jim Dandy entrant Flameaway in both the Sam F. Davis  Stakes (G3) and Lambholm South Tampa Bay Derby (G2) this year, but his connections think better days are ahead.

"I think he's doing well. He's had a good time since the Belmont," Pletcher said. "He seems to be showing good energy, and he's been pointing to the Jim Dandy since then. We're looking to get him on track and get a good race into him before the Travers (Stakes, G1).

"The one thing we've always felt is that he would appreciate more distance. We always felt like as he matured and got a little older, he would continue to improve, and that's what we're hoping for. He's still a lightly raced horse, so we're hoping for a good late summer and fall."

Flameaway began the year not among the early nominees to the Triple Crown, but owner John Oxley promptly wrote a check for the $6,000 late fee after the son of  Scat Daddy bested eventual grade 1 winner Catholic Boy in the Sam F. Davis Stakes. The Mark Casse trainee went on to run second in the Tampa Bay Derby and Toyota Blue Grass Stakes (G2) but was off the board in both the Kentucky Derby Presented by Woodford Reserve (G1) and the June 23 Ohio Derby (G3).

"I gave him a lot of time off after the Derby because the Derby was hard on everybody," Casse said. "I think I probably gave him a little too much time, but Flameaway is Flameaway now. Whether he's good enough, I don't know, but he's as good as he can get right now. Where that puts him I'm not sure, but if you look at some of his races, they're really good. He's as good as he's going to get."

Trainer Steve Asmussen has a pair of entrants in Reride and Tenfold, both owned by Winchell Thoroughbreds. Reride most recently finished fifth in the Mystic Lake Derby, his first start since running third in the March 31 UAE Derby Sponsored By Saeed & Mohammed Al Naboodah Group (G2). Tenfold is coming off a fifth-place finish in the Belmont Stakes.

A return to Saratoga could be a welcome one for Sporting Chance as it was over the main track there last year where the quirky son of Tiznow  captured the Hopeful Stakes (G1). The D. Wayne Lukas protégé hasn't been able to channel that form since as he brings a five-race losing skid into the Jim Dandy. When finishing sixth in the May 19 Preakness Stakes (G1) last time out, the dark bay colt ran into trouble and had to check around the first turn, taking him out of his game from there on.

"Mentally, his gene pool kicked in. His sire was very difficult to train," Lukas said. "Tiznow spent a lot of days going out to the racetrack and never made it to the racetrack. He would lock up on the track and refuse to train.

"This one has got some quirks about him. If he shows up with his best race, and I think he likes this racetrack, if he shows up he'll be very tough in the Jim Dandy, but he's got to bring his 'A' game."

Entries: Jim Dandy S. presented by NYRA Bets (G2)

Saratoga Race Course, Saturday, July 28, 2018, Race 10

• Grade II
• 1 1/8m
• Dirt
• $600,000
• 3 yo
• 6:18 PM (local)

PP	Horse	Jockey	Wgt	Trainer	M/L
1	1Flameaway (ON)	Jose L. Ortiz	120	Mark E. Casse	7/2
2	2Tenfold (KY)	Ricardo Santana, Jr.	118	Steven M. Asmussen	8/5
3	3Reride (KY)	Irad Ortiz, Jr.	118	Steven M. Asmussen	12/1
4	4Sporting Chance (KY)	Luis Saez	118	D. Wayne Lukas	8/1
5	5Vino Rosso (KY)	John R. Velazquez	122	Todd A. Pletcher	1/1