The Grade 2, $500,000-dollar Jim Dandy Stakes is Saturday at Saratoga Race Course. It is the final major prep race for the Grade 1 Travers Stakes.
It is a compact but talented field of five three-year-olds competing over 1 1/8 miles on the main track.
The field may be small, but it features several accomplished Stakes runners with legitimate Travers aspirations. Here is a closer look at the field:
1. CHIP HONCHO [ML 3-1] Jockey: Jose Ortiz. Trainer: Steve Asmussen. Enters off a victory in the Grade 3 Ohio Derby, where he tracked the pace before finishing strongly to win by a length. His recent races suggest he’s becoming more versatile, relaxing early instead of insisting on the lead. The inside draw should allow him to secure excellent early position, and in a race lacking abundant speed, he could control the tempo. Can his Ohio Derby form translate against this stronger bunch? We shall see.
2. ASKED AND ANSWERED [ML 30-1] Jockey: Jaime Rodriguez. Trainer: Antonio Arriaga. Can he win this race? He remains a Maiden after six starts and appears badly overmatched. His speed figures are well short of what will likely be required to compete at this level, making him the longest shot in the field. Answered.
3. RENEGADE [ML 7-5] Jockey: Irad Ortiz Jr. Trainer: Todd Pletcher. He has quietly assembled one of the strongest records in the field. After a troubled trip he still managed to run 2nd in the Kentucky Derby, he reappeared in the Belmont Stakes and finished a flat 3rd. Connections indicated the Derby took more of a toll than expected, which may explain his slightly below-par performance. He prefers to rally from off the pace but has shown he can win races even when early fractions are moderate. His late kick makes him a major threat if he returns to his best form.
4. SILENT TACTIC [ML 6-1] Jockey: Luis Saez. Trainer: Mark Casse. Has never finished worse than 2nd in six career starts, but this will be his first race since March after dealing with foot issues that forced him to miss both the Kentucky Derby and the Preakness. His Arkansas Derby runner-up finish demonstrated his ability, but layoffs this long usually require at least one race before peak fitness returns. He has the talent to be competitive, but the timing of his return makes this a difficult assignment.
5. COMMANDMENT [ML 6-5] Jockey: Flavian Prat. Trainer: Brad Cox. After victories in the Mucho Macho Man Stakes, Fountain of Youth Stakes, and Florida Derby, he ran into some trouble in the Kentucky Derby but came back with a strong 2nd-place finish in the Belmont Stakes. He’s adding blinkers for the first time, cutting back in distance and has the versatility to adapt to any pace scenario. He doesn’t require a perfect pace setup, can place himself wherever necessary and launch his bid at the right time.
The Jim Dandy Stakes is slated as race 10 on a card of 12 with a scheduled Post Time of 5:45.
Best of luck however you play it.
