Bernardini is back for Jim Dandy

BERNARDINI (A.P. Indy), who is unraced since his striking 5 1/4-length

victory in the May 20 Preakness S. (G1), will make a highly anticipated return

to the races in Saturday's $500,000 Jim Dandy S. (G2) at Saratoga. A total of

six sophomores, including a coupled entry, will head to the post for the 1

1/8-mile prep for the $1 million Travers S. (G1) on August 26, and the Thomas

Albertrani-trained Bernardini will be seeking his third straight stakes score.

The once-beaten colt has started only four times, posting his first stakes win

in the one-mile Withers S. (G3) two starts back, and he'll

carry the top impost of 123 pounds in the Jim Dandy. Javier Castellano

rides.

"He looks every ounce as good as he did going into the Preakness and he's run

well off layoffs before," Albertrani commented. "The Preakness was a long time

ago. Actually, it feels like forever. Right now, he's showing me he's on ready."

Peter Pan S. (G2) hero SUNRIVER (Saint Ballado) is a top threat to the

Preakness winner. A full brother to multiple champion Ashado, the Todd Pletcher

charge finished third in the Belmont S. (G1) last time out. John Velazquez will reunite

with the dark bay colt.

"After the Belmont, everything's gone just how we wanted it to," said

Pletcher, who has won four of the last six runnings of the Jim Dandy. "We're

pleased with the progress he's made. Backing up from a mile and a half to a mile

and an eighth is gonna suit him well."

Trainer John Ward Jr. will send out the coupled entry of

MINISTER'S BID (Deputy Minister) and DR. PLEASURE (Thunder Gulch). Unbeaten in

two career starts, Minister's Bid exits an impressive allowance romp at Belmont

Park. The stakes-placed Dr. Pleasure finished a good third against older

allowance rivals most recently.

The complete field, from the rail with riders and weights, is Sunriver, 121;

OH SO AWESOME (Awesome Again), Kent Desormeaux, 115; Bernardini; Dr. Pleasure,

Garrett Gomez, 115; HEMINGWAY'S KEY (Notebook), Julien Leparoux, 115; and

Minister's Bid, Edgar Prado, 115.