We have a loaded slate of Stakes racing at The Spa on Saturday. The Jim Dandy headlines the schedule with some of the best 3 year old’s prepping for the G1 Travers Stakes. The Travers aka the “Midsummer Derby” will take place later in the Saratoga meet (August 28th). In addition to the G2 Jim Dandy we also have the G1 Vanderbilt Stakes and the G2 Bowling Green Stakes. All races can be seen on FS2 “Saratoga Live” from 1:00 pm to 7:00 pm ET.
G1 Alfred G. Vanderbilt Stakes
The inaugural running of this event took place in 1985 as the A Phenomenon Stakes. It was originally named after the winner of the 1983 Jim Dandy Stakes, A Phenomenon. In 1990 the event was upgraded to a G3 Stakes, and then a G2 in 1995. In 2000, the event was renamed to honor Alfred G Vanderbilt who served as Chairman of the Board to the NYRA from 1971 to 1975. In 2010, the event was upgraded to a G1 Stakes. D. Wayne Lucas, H. Allen Jerkens, Steve Asmussen all share the record for the most wins by a Trainer with 3. Pat Day and Javier Castellano share the record for most wins by a Jockey with 4.
Race Information:
- Track: Saratoga Race Course (Saratoga Springs, New York)
- Event Grade: I
- Race: 8
- Post Time: 5:03 PM ET
- Length: 6 Furlongs
- Purse: $350,000
- Division: Open | 3 Year Old & Up
- Surface: Dirt
- Wagers: Pick 4 (.50) Races (8-11), Double Wagers
Field:
- Lexitonian (Jose Lezcano), 20-1
- Mischevious Alex (Irad Ortiz Jr.), 2-1
- Firenze Fire (Jose Ortiz), 3-1
- Strike Power (Tyler Gaffalione), 15-1
- Three Technique (Manuel Franco), 15-1
- Whitmore (Ricardo Santana Jr.), 4-1
- Miles Ahead (Luis Saez), 12-1
- Montauk Traffic (Eric Cancel), 15-1
- Special Reserve (Joel Rosario), 9-2
Horse Preview:
WHITMORE, the ageless 8 year old gelding, is 0-3 this year but has been close in those starts. He was third in a three horse photo in the GI Churchill Downs Stakes and second on the G3 Count Fleet Sprint Handicap. Ricardo Santana Jr will get the mount on WHITMORE who has ridden him 17 times out of his 41 career starts. WHITMORE won his last G1 Stakes in 2020 when he captured the G1 Breeder’s Cup Sprint. He raced last year the G2 Alfred G. Vanderbilt and took second.
MISCHEVIOUS ALEX, is a 4 year old colt who has been in the money in both G1 Stakes races he’s took place in this year. He won the G1 Carter Handicap at Aqueduct and took third in his last race, the G1 Metropolitan. His last race was the only race he failed to win in his four starts in 2021.
FIRENZE FIRE, is a 6 year old horse, who also doesn’t seem to be slowing down with age. This will be his first G1 Stakes this year but has captured a win in the G2 True North and G3 Runhappy. In last race, he took second in the G2 John A Nerud Stakes losing to MIND CONTROL. He hasn’t lost his past three races at 6 -6 1/2 furlongs, so we’ll see if he can continue that trend here.
Race Preview:
Front Runner(s): Firenze Fire, Strike Power, Mischevious Alex, Special Reserve
Off the Pace: Lexitonian, Miles Ahead, Three Technique
Closer(s): Whitmore, Montauk Traffic
Picks:
WIN: (6) WHITMORE
EXACTA: 6 / 1, 2, 3
He’s 0-3. this year but has ran great in all three of those races. With Santana on the mount, I think he get’s his first win of the year.
G2 Jim Dandy Stakes
The G2 Jim Dandy is the traditional prep race for the G1 Travers Stakes. This race has been held annually at Saratoga since 1964. Prior to 1971, this race was run at a distance of a mile. The race is named in honor of the three year old colt, Jim Dandy who won the 1930 Travers Stakes at the odds of 100-1 beating Triple Crown winner Gallant Fox. Todd Pletcher has the most wins by a Trainer with 6 (2000, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2011, 2013). Eddie Maple, Jerry Bailey, and John Velazquez share the record for most wins by a Jockey with 4.
Race Information:
- Track: Saratoga Race Course (Saratoga Springs, New York)
- Event Grade: II
- Race: 9
- Post Time: 5:39 PM ET
- Length: 1 1/8 Miles (9 Furlongs)
- Purse: $600,000
- Division: Open | 3 Year Old
- Surface: Dirt
- Wagers: Exacta, Trifecta (.50), Super (.10), Pick 3 Races (9-11), Double Wagers
Field:
- Dr Jack (Jose Ortiz), 12-1
- Masqueparade (Miguel Mena), 4-1
- Weyburn (Irad Ortiz Jr.), 5-1
- Keepmeinmind (Joel Rosario), 6-1
- Essential Quality (Luis Saez), 3-5
- Risk Taking (Manuel Franco), 15-1
Horse Preview:
ESSENTIAL QUALITY enters the G2 Jim Dandy fresh off a win in the G1 Belmont Stakes. He rebounded in that race after a sub-par performance in the G1 Kentucky Derby. Prior to the Kentucky Derby he was undefeated winning his last five. He’s the most decorated horse in this field with three Grade I wins to his name.
WEYBURN is in a bit of a rut failing to find he winner’s circle in his past two races. He lost to MANDALOUN is the G1 Pegasus in his last out. Earlier this year he won the G3 Gontham Stakes at Aqueduct going off at 20-1.
KEEPMEINMIND off a bit of a layoff in her last race the G3 Ohio Derby took third to fellow entrant MASQUEPARADE who won. His last win came back in November of 2020 in the Kentucky Jockey Club at Churchill Downs.
RISK TAKING is coming into this race off a bit of a layoff with his last race coming back in May. That race was the G1 Preakness Stakes where he would finish eighth. He’s struggled in the G1 and G2 Stakes he’s competed in but won the G3 Withers earlier this year.
MASQUEPARADE enters the G2 Jim Dandy on a heater winning his last three starts. His most recent race was the G3 Ohio Derby where he bested fellow entrant KEEPMEINMIND. This will be his first G1 Stakes race so we’ll see how he handles the step up in class.
DR JACK‘s last out was the G1 Pegasus where he finished third. In that race where MANDALOUN won, fellow entrant WEYBURN took second.
Race Preview:
Front Runner(s): Masqueparade, Weyburn, Dr Jack
Off the Pace: Essential Quality, Risk Taking
Closer(s): Keepmeinmind
Picks:
WIN: (3) WEYBURN
EXACTA: 2, 3, 4 / 5
In this race I’m going to try and beat the heavy favorite in Essential Quality. Weyburn has early speed that can press the pace and possibly hold off a late bid from Essential Quality.
Best of luck, and as always you can find me on Twitter @GatorBetting and Instagram @Gator_Sports_Betting.
