Despite the fact that Journalism (Curlin) became the first of his generation to earn as many as three elite-level victories with his thrilling success in the GI NYRABets Haskell Stakes last weekend, Godolphin's Sovereignty (Into Mischief) remains at the head of this year's sophomore class by virtue of convincing head-to-head tallies in the GI Kentucky Derby on May 3 and when last seen in the GI Belmont Stakes right here at Saratoga on June 7.
But the argument can be made that Saturday's GII Jim Dandy Stakes at the Spa may not be a straight-forward task for the homebred son of Crowned (Bernardini), as four well-credentialed rivals will line up against him for a race in which they perhaps have more to play for than the deserving favorite.
Sovereignty has been made the 2-5 choice on David Aragona's morning line, a far cry from the ludicrous almost $18 mutuel he returned at Churchill and the $7 he paid when–somehow–not favored in the Belmont. But those two efforts, as much as they stand out on paper, do not necessarily mean that Saturday's contest is a fait accompli.
Having come from a near-impossible position to take the GII Coolmore Fountain of Youth Stakes on his sophomore debut Mar. 1, locking up his spot in the field for the Derby for all intents and purposes, he was logically set for the GI Curlin Florida Derby four weeks later. Drawn widest and with Manny Franco subbing for an injured Junior Alvarado, Sovereignty made steady progress and was second home, extracting just what he needed from the race as it related to the Derby.
With the GI DraftKings Travers and its $1.25-million purse four weeks down the road, could the Jim Dandy be another means to an end for Sovereignty?
“Absolutely, that has been the goal,” Mott, a four-time winner of the Jim Dandy, said of the Travers. “It is just a matter of how you get there.
“We hope he has a good race and has a little luck. Anything can happen. They've got to go around there, and it's not over until those blinking lights say 'official.' They've got to hang those numbers up and say official.”
Baeza (McKinzie) makes his second trans-continental trip in seven weeks for trainer John Shirreffs, having trained brilliantly back home since finishing some 6 1/2 lengths behind Sovereignty in the Belmont. The $1.2-million Keeneland September yearling, who was a late addition to the Derby and just failed to catch Journalism for second, has registered no fewer than five breezes and looks to be holding his form. Shirreffs is of the belief that there is even better to come from the half-brother to the Classic-winning Good Magic full-brothers Mage and Dornoch.
“I didn't think he ran his best race in the Belmont,” said Shirreffs. “Talking to [jockey Flavien] Prat after the race, he said it took him a long time to engage down the backside. You can see that he had to ride pretty hard from maybe the half-mile pole all the way to the wire. I think he can run better than that.”
With Prat in California to ride 'TDN Rising Star' Nysos (Nyquist) in Saturday's GII San Diego Handicap, the underrated Hector Berrios will be in the saddle in the Jim Dandy.
Sandman (Tapit) cemented his spot in the Derby field with a going-away victory in the GI Arkansas Derby Mar. 29 and passed a handful of rivals in the lane to be seventh beneath the Twin Spires. A clear third to Journalism in the GI Preakness Stakes, the $1.2-million OBS March breezer gets the blinkers on for the first time on Saturday.
“I'm hoping the blinkers don't take some of his punch away, but you never know until you try,” Casse said. “We are looking for a good effort in the Jim Dandy, something to propel us to the Travers.”
Mo Plex (Complexity) could have taken a path of lesser resistance in a race like the Albany Stakes, but connections chart a more ambitious course with the last-out winner of the GIII Ohio Derby. 'TDN Rising Star' Hill Road (Quality Road) earned himself a crack at the Belmont with a 3/4-length score in the GIII Peter Pan Stakes and will need to make up 9 1/2 lengths on Sovereignty if he is to be in the Dandy discussion.
Trainer John Shirreffs with Baeza Friday morning on the Saratoga backstretch. Baeza is the 3-1 ML second choice in Saturday's Jim Dandy. Was third behind Sovereignty (2-5 ML Jim Dandy favorite) in @KentuckyDerby and @BelmontStakes. pic.twitter.com/TIzyMLvN2G
— Tim Wilkin (@tjwilkin) July 25, 2025
Brown Barn Double-Fisted In Lake George
Chad Brown has saddled the winner of the GII Lake George Stakes an additional six times since Mrs McDougal (Medaglia d'Oro) gave him his first in 2015 and the barn is represented by a pair of live chances Friday afternoon.
Play With Fire (Oscar Performance) came from last in a field of eight to defeat Pretty Lavish (Ire) (Ribchester {Ire}) and Princess Attitude (Frankel {GB}) in Pimlico's Hilltop Stakes May 16 for Brendan Walsh and owner Fergus Galvin and was acquired thereafter by Randy Sarf's LSU Stables. In her first run for the new ownership, the bay was gaining late, but was forced to settle for second to the re-opposing all-the-way winner Classic Q (Classic Empire) in the one-mile July 3 Wild Applause Stakes over this course.
The latter is trained by Mark Casse, who sent out Pounce (Lookin At Lucky) to snap a five-race winning streak last year for Brown, who will also send out Lavender Disaster (Into Mischief).
Play With Fire schooling in the Saratoga paddock | Sarah Andrew
World Record Ships In For WAYI Bing Crosby
With an all-expenses-paid trip to the GI Breeders' Cup Sprint over the Del Mar six furlongs in the offing, 'TDN Rising Star' World Record (Gun Runner) has made the trek west for a deep renewal of the GI Bing Crosby Stakes over the same course and trip.
The runaway winner of last-year's age-restricted GII Amsterdam Stakes at Saratoga, the $410,000 Keeneland November weanling purchase led home a 'Rising Star' 1-2in Churchill allowance company May 1, defeating Nash (Medaglia d'Oro) by a solid 2 1/2 lengths. The 8-5 second choice for the GIII Aristides Stakes May 31, the bay carried the lead into the final furlong, but was run down late and settled for second. He has shown the ability to take a sit off the pace, and that could come in handy in a heat that looks fast on paper.
Dr. Venkman (Ghostzapper) won the GII San Diego Handicap on this program 12 months ago, but sticks to the shorter trip this time around. Most likely in need of the run when a distant second to Nysos in the GIII Triple Bend Stakes May 31, the bay was sent to Churchill for the June 28 GIII Kelly's Landing Stakes, but couldn't quite reel in Roll On Big Joe (Prospective).
Crazy Mason (Coal Front) makes the cross-country journey for trainer Greg Sacco in career-best form. An Aqueduct allowance winner in January and February, the gra colt came from a mile back to win the GII Carter Stakes on Apr. 5 and was a late-on-the-scene third to Book'em Danno (Bucchero) in the GIII True North Stakes June 7.
The aforementioned Nysos carries top weight of 124 pounds in the San Diego, a lead-up to the GI Pacific Classic, and the 'TDN Rising Star' makes just his second trip around two turns, having crushed his fellow 3-year-olds by 7 1/2 lengths in the GIII Robert B. Lewis Stakes last February.
A too-good-to-lose second to fellow 'Rising Star' Mindframe (Constitution) in the GI Churchill Downs Stakes first off the 15-month hiatus May 3, the $550,000 OBS April grad never took a deep breath in the Triple Bend, scoring by 5 1/2 lengths.
Among the competition is Grade I winner Express Train (Union Rags), winner of this event in 2021 and third last year; Grade III scorer Midnight Mammoth (Midnight Lute); and GSW 'TDN Rising Star' Hall of Fame (Gun Runner), who races in the Claiborne Farm colors for Michael McCarthy for the first time.
Fondly Shoots For Third Oaks at Monmouth
Already victorious in the Virginia Oaks in March and in the GIII Delaware Oaks last month, Fondly (Upstart) will have her fair share of backers from the outside draw in a field of seven for Saturday's GIII Monmouth Oaks.
It will likely be pedal to the metal for the $50,000 Fasig-Tipton October purchase, who has trained well over the last six weeks at trainer Graham Motion's Fair Hill base.
Pink Ruby (Connect) had the consistent Rosieontheriver (Kantharos) back in third in a May 18 allowance at this venue, having finished fourth in the June 22 Wilton Stakes at Aqueduct. Rosieontheriver has put together a record of 2-0-2 from four starts going two turns on the main track.
Running Away (Gun Runner) does her best work on the engine and was the wire-to-wire winner of the Jan. 18 Busanda Stakes before faltering in the GI Central Bank Ashland Stakes in April. She was last seen 'running away' from her rivals in the Horseshoe Indianapolis Handicap May 14.
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