Happy Jim Dandy Day! 

Bill Mott has campaigned Sovereignty as well as you could.  Sure, they passed on the Preakness. But that was never their plan, Mott has stuck to the plan, and he should get credit for that. The question today is whether Sovereignty will be fully cranked today. It is Saratoga of course, and plenty of 1/5 shots in big races have found their demise along Union Avenue. 

Trivia Question: Who was Jim Dandy?  

Race 9 – The Lake George Stakes – Grade III 

One Mile and a Sixteenth on the Inner Turf, for Three Year Old Fillies 

1. Reining Flowers: Consistent performer hasn’t won a stakes race yet but he has gotten pieces. Caught a yielding course in her only turf race this year in the Penn Oaks where she ran a 71 Beyer for the fourth time in her career. A step below.
2. Pretty Lavish: Has performed well since coming over from Ireland last Fall with a win and two seconds in ungraded stakes races the Boiling Springs (72 Beyer) and Hilltop (81 Beyer). In both cases she was in position and got a clear run – but was out finished.  Mixed signals.
3. Daisy Flyer: Only has a maiden win to her name but she comes in fresh after just missing in the Herecomesthebride Stakes at Gulfstream in March at 80-1 where she was in a four way photo after leveling off late almost getting up (80 Beyer). Contender with a move forward in her second race of the year. Value play for this Rusty Arnold trainee. The Pick.
4. Lavender Disaster: In the Wild Applause run over this course on 4th of July weekend she sat off Classic Q but couldn’t run down that leader (83 Beyer) who she faces again today. Look for her to attend the pace. Player.
5. Classic Q: Two back they changed tactics and send her to the front Regret Stakes – but she faded late (69 Beyer). In the one mile Wild Applause last out those front running tactics paid off with a gate to wire score (87 Beyer). Look for her to set the pace again. Does the extra half furlong matter? Hits the board.
6. Princess Attitude: Stalker/pace presser has hit the board in her last three efforts. The last two races were in stakes company and in both cases she had clear run at it but couldn’t get the win. Her best was in the Hilltop (77 Beyer) where she got to the lead but flattened out. Needs to show a better turn of foot to defeat this field. Piece of it.
7. Pookie: Finished behind Lavender Disaster last out in her first race of the year as she was in position turning for home but was one paced (76 Beyer).  Tom Morley trainee will need to show improvement in her second start of her three year old season to contend. Exotics.
8. Aterradona: Has raced six times this year and has fourth place finishes in both the Regret Stakes (74 Beyer) and the Edgewood Stakes (89 Beyer). Late runner. Could pick up check.
9. Good Long Cry: Throw out the dirt effort and in her most recent turf effort in March at Tampa in the Sophomore Turf Stakes she moved four wide on the turn and looked dangerous but flattened in the lane (72 Beyer). She’s outside again today. Looking elsewhere.
10. Play With Fire: Chad Brown trainee has been sharp in her two most recent. Two back in the Hilltop she swept by the whole field going six wide off the turn to get the win (83 Beyer). Last time she stalked a shaper pace and looked the winner in the Wild Applause but Classic Q just kept finding to hold her off (86 Beyer). Outside post is tough on the Inner turf. Not today.
11. Kay Cup: (MTO): If this comes off the turf this is a logical play as she has run mid-80 Beyers sprinting on the dirt including a win in the state bred Bouwerie Stakes (86 Beyer). But she will need to show he can get the Wilson Chute mile. 

Picks 3-5-4-6 Dirt Picks 11-10-7 

Race 10 – The Jim Dandy – Grade II 

One Mile and One Furlong on the Dirt for Three Year Olds 

1. Baeza: Was a decent third in both the Kentucky Derby (102 Beyer) and the Belmont (100 Beyer). He gets Sovereignty for a third time and they will have to figure out a way to turn the tables. Hector Berrios takes over for Prat who is in SoCal. Has three straight triple digit Beyers and is working great. If Sovereignty doesn’t fire he is the most likely alternative. Needs to be a bit closer early if he is that may give him an edge. I’ll take a shot. The Pick. 
2. Sandman: In the Preakness he came with a sustained run from off the pace and looked to have second wrapped up until Journalism unleashed that late kick (95 Beyer). Two back he didn’t do much running in the Derby as he passed some tired horses. Will come from the clouds and hope for a pace meltdown. Maybe he gets a small piece.
3. Mo Plex: On two race win streak winning the Bay Shore in April and then came back in the Grade 3 Ohio Derby where he attended the pace and kicked clear late (96 Beyer).  Will need to move forward again, but he showed he could handle two turns in Ohio. Likely pace setter won both the Grade 3 Sanford and state-bred Funny Cide Stakes over this track last year. Underneath.
4. Hill Road: Came on to the scene with a nice win in the Peter Pan where he broke poorly but made a long sustained run to get up in the last couple of strides (95 Beyer).Went to the Belmont Stakes off that and was no threat while passing some tired runners (96 Beyer). Can’t endorse.
5. Sovereignty: Winner of the Kentucky Derby (105 Beyer) and the Belmont (109 Beyer) comes here looking very strong. Should sit off Mo Plex and move as they turn for home.  Someone will need to step up to contend with this monster. Logical odds on favorite. But it’s the graveyard of champions for a reason and he was beaten in the Florida Derby where he didn’t show his usual move in the lane. Also, today isn’t the goal – the Travers is. Use on all tickets.

Picks 1-5-3 

Trivia Answer: The Jim Dandy Stakes is named in honor of the 3-year-old colt, Jim Dandy, who won the 1930 Travers Stakes at 100-1, beating Triple Crown winner Gallant Fox.