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Zito, Dutrow have the favorites in Jim Dandy
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| Fly Down will attempt to get back on the winning track in the Jim Dandy
(Lauren Pomeroy/Horsephotos.com) |
Sunday's Haskell Invitational (G1) will have the star power, but the field
for Saturday's
Jim
Dandy S. (G2) at Saratoga is evidence there are plenty of good
three-year-olds to go around. The nine-furlong feature serves as a local prep
for the August 28 Travers S. (G1) and has attracted nine colts.
Trainers Nick Zito and Tony Dutrow have each entered two, and the wagering
will likely center around that quartet. Zito will saddle FLY DOWN (Mineshaft),
the emphatic six-length winner of the Dwyer S. (G2) who ran a close second in
the Belmont S. (G1), as well as MINER'S RESERVE (Mineshaft), who proved not to
be classic material but is on the upswing after two solid runs in allowance
company.
Dutrow, meanwhile, will send out A LITTLE WARM (Stormin Fever), who figures
to be no worse than second choice. The bay notched the Spectacular Bid S. in
January but was forced to miss the classics after runner-up efforts in the
Hutcheson S. (G2) and Louisiana Derby (G2). Three months after the latter race,
A Little Warm returned to his winning ways with a 2 1/4-length decision over
Miner's Reserve in an allowance at Delaware Park. WINSLOW HOMER (Unbridled's
Song), who captured the Holy Bull S. (G3) earlier in the year, is the other
Dutrow hopeful. He was a distant third in the June 26 Iowa Derby (G3) following
a five-month layoff.
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The remainder of the field, with one exception, also figure in the mix.
AFLEET EXPRESS (Afleet Alex) has won three of five outings, including the June 19
Pegasus S. (G3) at Monmouth by 1 3/4 lengths. A pair of undefeated New York-breds,
FRIEND OR FOE (Friends Lake) and STORMY'S MAJESTY (Stormy Atlantic), add
intrigue though both will obviously have to elevate their respective games while
stretching out. Then there is the perennial graded attendee AIKENITE (Yes It's
True), who finally earned an overdue trip to the allowance ranks at Belmont on
June 19. A two-length winner of that one mile event, Aikenite has placed four
times in stakes company.
The powerful Aidan O'Brien stable has shipped from Ireland STEINBECK (Ire) (Footstepsinthesand
[GB]), who will be making his dirt debut in the Jim Dandy. Most notably fourth
in the Dewhurst S. (Eng-G1) and Irish Two Thousand Guineas (Ire-G1), he enters
off a second in the Meld S. (Ire-G3). The overwhelming presence of turf blood in
his immediate family suggests he may struggle under Garrett Gomez.
Saratoga's 11-race Saturday card kicks off with the $70,000
William B.
Fasig S. for New York-bred fillies and mares. CHESTORIA (Chester House), YOU
GO WEST GIRL (Mr. Greeley) and AKILINA (Langfuhr) are the main contenders in the
1 1/16-mile inner turf contest.
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