“Look at Bernardini! He didn’t break a sweat, and its 90 degrees!”

The Jim Dandy Stakes is contested at 9 furlongs on the dirt for three-year-olds at Saratoga. It is a Grade 2 event and is typically used as a springboard towards the more important Grade 1 Travers Stakes the following month. Last year’s Jim Dandy was taken by Kensei. The colt was on a hot streak at the time and hasn’t done much since. Before Kensei it was Macho Again, Street Sense, and Bernardini. All three of those winners had or went on to have excellent careers. I have a feeling this years winner could be destined for bigger things too.

The race is headlined by Grade 2 Dwyer Stakes winner Fly Down. He took the Dwyer two back by a massive 6 lengths before finishing second to Drosselmeyer in the Belmont Stakes. With a better trip Fly Down could have been the victor over Drosselmeyer, as he was when he beat him in the Dwyer. Trainer Nick Zito has Fly Down working up a storm. His latest workout was a :47 1/5 four furlong move that was the fastest of 77 works. The son of Mineshaft has won two times from three starts at the Jim Dandy distance. He will be favored and for good reason. Fly Down is a fast racehorse. However, if he wants to win he will have to best a colt who finished in front of him in the Louisiana Derby.

That colt is A Little Warm. He is trained by Anthony Dutrow and will be ridden by John Velazquez. The son of Stormin Fever was given a respite after failing to gain enough earnings to compete in the Kentucky Derby. That respite ended with an allowance win at Delaware over a decent competitor in Miner’s Reserve. That win was very important because it showed that A Little Warm could relax behind the leaders in a route race. All in all the race was very solid, especially so given that he hadn’t raced since late March.  A Little Warm is a classy colt. He finished second in the Louisiana Derby and Hutcheson Stakes. He won the ungraded Spectacular Bid Stakes. The Virginia bred looks ready to run a career best race. He will have to do so if he wants to win against this competitive field!

Afleet Express comes into the Jim Dandy with a good reputation, but he won’t be one of the top two betting choices. The son of Afleet Alex took a nw2l (non-winners of two lifetime races) event two back by 7 3/4 lengths. The James Jerkens trainee earned a massive 113 BRIS figure for that effort. He validated that win by taking the Grade 3 Pegasus Stakes over  Afleet Again, and Jackson Bend. He has the benefit of hot jockey JJ Castellano riding him. Despite his strong efforts it is likely that he will need to move forward yet again if he wants to come out on top here.

Steinbeck will be racing for trainer Aidan O’Brien. The trainer is like the European version of Todd Pletcher. His colt will be racing on nine days rest after finishing 2nd in a Group 3 event at Leopardstown. Shipping across the pond on nine days rest means he is a total non-factor in my handicapping. I won’t include him on any tickets. He is still a nice colt, but he has too much to overcome.

Stormy’s Majesty and Friend Or Foe enter the race undefeated. Both have won three races. Friend Or Foe easily won the statebred Mike Lee Stakes last out over eventual New York Derby winner Ibboyee. That race was at seven furlongs. He will have to be something special to win this race going two turns for the first time. Stormy’s Majesty won a statebred optional claiming event last out by a whopping eight lengths going one mile. Both colts are up against it, but the have bright futures after this race.

Aikenite will race for Todd Pletcher. He made a failed try at Preakness Stakes two back before taking an allowance race. This son of Yes It’s True has plenty of talent, but he probably isn’t ready for this type of competition just yet. I’m a bit surprised that Pletcher entered him. David Cohen will retain the mount. Don’t count him out. Looks can be deceiving, but  I don’t see it happening.

Calvin Borel will return as the pilot of Miner’s Reserve for this race. The Nick Zito trainee has run two strong races prior to the Dandy. He finished second to A Little Warm after setting the pace last out. Before that he won an allowance race at Belmont Park. It will be up to Miner’s Reserve to ensure an honest pace. Can he get brave on the lead and keep going? I guess we will have to wait to find out.

The last runner I haven’t mentioned is Winslow Homer. He looked like a top Kentucky Derby contender after a strong win in the Holy Bull Stakes. Sadly, he fell off the trail because of an injury. He returned to the races with a third place finish behind Concord Point  who freaked to win the Iowa Derby by 9 lengths for trainer Bob Baffert. I think you can forgive Winslow’s Homer’s effort. He will enter this race a bit under the radar after failing to win his comeback race, but he is every bit as good as he ever was. A win from him wouldn’t surprise me at all.

Who is your top pick to win the Jim Dandy Stakes? Leave a comment and discuss! You can get my selections for the Jim Dandy, Diana, Haskell, and many other races this weekend by purchasing my selections below. Purchasers of any Saratoga package will also get picks for the Haskell Invitational!

Saratoga/Del Mar Picks

Saratoga Meet $69.00 Del Mar Meet $69.00 Saratoga Single $10.00 Del Mar Single $10.00

Soon after he boldly stated that the son of Maria’s Mon would win the Triple Crown. Trainer Todd Pletcher said that Super Saver’s next race would come in the Preakness (shocking, right?). Calvin may believe he has the 12th Triple Crown winner of all time, but several challengers will line up to oppose him.

The first one that leaps out to me is Grade 2 Louisiana Derby runner up A Little Warm. He was very impressive stretching out in distance for the first time in that race. He appeared to be a sprinter, but he proved his doubters wrong by digging in and holding on for second after he came under attack early in the stretch run. If he can improve on that effort he would be dangerous in the Preakness. If Bob Baffert doesn’t send Conveyance his chances will be increased. Conveyance would likely burn him to a crisp on the lead.

I also like Grade 2 Robert B. Lewis winner Caracortado. The gelded son of Cat Dreams has had excuses in his last to races. In the Grade 2 San Felipe he had no fractions to chase and Sidney’s Candy easily pulled the wire job. In the Grade 1 Santa Anita Derby he had to check sharply after the Gomez-Espinoza incident where Lookin at Lucky was slammed into the rail. If he goes to the Preakness and the fractions are sharp you can bet your ass he will come flying late. The only thing working against him is that Pimlico Racecourse favors speed.

The Kentucky Derby favorite, Lookin at Lucky, would have a heck of a chance if Bob Baffert decides to send him. He has encountered plenty of trouble in his three-year-old campaign, but has handled it well. He rallied to win the Grade 2 Rebel Stakes after clipping heels. In the Grade 1 Santa Anita Derby he was unable to overcome being slammed into the rail, but still finished third. He put in a nice rally in the Derby but couldn’t overcome his rail post position. If Garrett Gomez can navigate a clean trip he will be loaded for bear turning for home and could mow them all down.

Others considering the race are Kentucky Derby third place finisher Paddy O’Prado. He is the definition of the “now” horse. He continues to improve with every start. Nick Zito and Bob LaPenta are toying with idea of starting Kentucky Derby runner up Ice Box in the Preakness, but will probably save him for the Belmont Stakes. Ice Box was easily the best colt in the Derby, but didn’t win because of an awful trip. Their other horse, Jackson Bend, is likely to go.

Other Kentucky Derby also rans’ considering the Preakness are Dublin, Make Music For Me, and Conveyance. New shooters include the Grade 3 Derby Trial first three finishers Hurricane Ike, Aikenite, and Pleasant Prince. Grade 3 Tampa Bay Derby runner up Schoolyard Dreams and Grade 3 Illinois Derby fourth place finisher Turf Melody wrap up the list of potential challengers. Super Saver will undoubtedly be in with a huge shot, but these horses won’t make it easy on him.

Who is your early pick for the Preakness? Leave a comment and share your thoughts!

The Grade 2 Hutcheson Stakes at 7 furlongs is perfect for colts that aren’t ready to go 9 furlongs in the Fountain of Youth. The race has produced notable sprinters and routers alike. Kentucky Derby winners Spectacular Bid and Swale both own a win in this race. Last year’s winner was Capt. Candyman Can who would go on to win the Grade 1 King’s Bishop. The field for 2010 is very strong and the winner will pick up much needed graded stakes earnings for the Kentucky Derby.

Although he didn’t fare well in his first start in the United States, Radiohead still looks like a strong contender. His only race in the US was a seventh place finish in the Breeders Cup Juvenile. The son of Johannesburg is trained by Richard Dutrow for IEAH Stables. He won the Group 2 Norfolk Stakes as Ascot last summer. He is working sharply for his first race over the dirt. Julien Leparoux will have the mount. He usually does well with horses coming in from overseas.

Richard Dutrow also has Grade 2 Saratoga Special winner D’funnybone entered in this race. He backed up big time last out in the Breeders Cup Juvenile after pressing the pace. I’ll forgive that effort because dirt horses werent running well on that weekend at all. The son of D’wildcat delivered an electrifying win in the Grade 2 Futurity at Belmont before the Breeders Cup. If he can regain that form he will be tough. He figures to get a nice stalking trip with Edgar Prado in the irons.

A Little Warm and Wildcat Frankie could shake things up for the Dutrow runners. They finished one-two in the Spectacular Bid Stakes, respectively. Wildcat Frankie has posted an allowance win since then, but A Little Warm hasn’t raced since. A Little Warm is trained by Anthony Dutrow and will be ridden by Jeremy Rose. A wet track would likely help his chances. Wildcat Frankie will be piloted by Paco Lopez  for trainer James Hatchett.

City Trooper, Ibboyee, Sum Champ, and Hear Ye Hear Ye round out the field. Who do you like in the Grade 2 Hutcheson Stakes?