Sovereignty best again over Baeza in Jim Dandy

Kentucky Derby (G1) and Belmont (G1) winner Sovereignty extended his win streak to three on Saturday at Saratoga, capturing the $485,000 Jim Dandy (G2) by a measured length over Baeza.

As a prep for Saratoga's signature event, the $1.25 million Travers (G1) on Aug. 23, the Jim Dandy served its purpose for both Sovereignty and Baeza, who has now finished behind the dual classic winner all three times they have squared off.

Contested over a fast track, the Jim Dandy attracted a field of five, with Sovereignty the 1-2 favorite. Breaking sharply under Junior Alvarado, Sovereignty was a half-length second behind Ohio Derby (G3) winner Mo Plex entering the first turn, with Baeza also up close, hugging the rail.

Down the backside, Alvarado eased back on Sovereignty, allowing Baeza to claim second. Sovereignty eased so much approaching the far turn that he momentarily dropped back to last in the compact field, but when called upon by Alvarado to re-engage around the far turn, Sovereignty took his cue.

Making a three-wide bid approaching the final bend and drifting even wider turning for home, Sovereignty gradually wore down Baeza while Mo Plex dropped back. Under limited encouragement, Sovereignty drew off late to score in a time of 1:49.52.

"I was 100 percent confident of what I had underneath of me," Alvarado said. "He got to get out, and I stayed with my horse, and by a little bit before the three-eighths pole, when I asked him, he started picking it up a little bit. He just jumped right away and went after them.

"Then I didn't want to kind of pass by those horses right away. I didn't want him to be on the lead too early turning for home, so I kind of nursed him out a little bit with those horses. When I asked him, right after we turned for home, he took off, and then after that, once again just doing enough to keep him in the lead without really asking him for his best."

A homebred campaigned by Godolphin and trained by Bill Mott, Sovereignty paid $3.

Baeza finished 9 1/4 lengths clear of Hill Road, who nosed out Mo Plex for third. Sandman, the Arkansas Derby (G1) winner, failed to muster any kind of rally while coming home a half-length behind Mo Plex.

The Jim Dandy was the fourth stakes win of the season for Sovereignty, who kicked off his campaign with a thrilling close in the Fountain of Youth (G2). He incurred his lone loss this season to date when second in the Florida Derby (G1).

Last season, the son of Into Mischief finished fourth in his debut at Saratoga, second in another maiden at Aqueduct, and graduated by five lengths in the Street Sense (G3) at Churchill Downs.

Daisy Flyer, who hadn't raced since missing by a neck in the March 1 Herecomesthebride (G3) as an 87-1 outsider, caught 7-5 favorite Classic Q in the final strides to land the $175,000 Lake George (G3), a 1 1/16-mile grass stakes for three-year-old fillies.

Under Jose Lezcano, Daisy Flyer won by a neck over Classic Q, who only narrowly held second by a nose over Reining Flowers. Daisy Flyer covered the firm-course test in 1:40.19 and paid $16.40.

Now a winner in two of her five lifetime starts for owner-breeder Calumet Farm and trainer Rusty Arnold, Daisy Flyer is a Kentucky-bred daughter of Mshawish.

"She'll be going farther. Her next start is in the Dueling Grounds Oaks (G3) at Kentucky Downs going a mile and five-sixteenths," said Arnold, in reference to the $2 million fixture scheduled for Sept. 10. "We had to get her eligible for it -- it's an invitational and I don't think she'd quite done enough and now she has."