Kentucky Derby (G1) and Belmont Stakes (G1) winner Sovereignty posted his final work Saturday morning before the $500,000 Jim Dandy Stakes (G2) at Saratoga Race Course on July 26.
The son of Into Mischief covered 4 furlongs in 49.82 seconds over the Spa’s Oklahoma training track for trainer Bill Mott. Since his Belmont win on June 7, Sovereignty has posted four workouts.
“It looked OK – the main thing is [exercise rider] Neil [Poznansky] thought it was good, and he looked like he was moving fine to me,” Mott said. “I guess it’s all about what he feels underneath him, and he thought he felt very similar to before he ran in the last race.”
The 1 1/8-mile Jim Dandy Stakes is shaping up to be a top-notch race in the leadup to the $1.25 million Travers Stakes (G1) on Aug. 23.
Among those set to challenge Sovereignty are Baeza, third in the Derby and the Belmont and Arkansas Derby (G1) winner Sandman, most recently third in the Preakness Stakes (G1). Also expected to run are Ohio Derby (G3) winner Mo Plex; McAfee (third in the Ohio Derby); and Hill Road (fourth in the Belmont).
The betting favorite has won the Jim Dandy three of the past four years, with Fierceness (the second betting choice) topping favorite Sierra Leone in the 2024 Jim Dandy.
The winning favorites in the previous three years were Forte (2023), Epicenter (2022), and Essential Quality (2021).
Iowa Derby winner Magnitude, back in top form after being sidelined for the Triple Crown races, worked 4 furlongs in 51.68 seconds on Saturday over the Spa’s Oklahoma training track.
Trained by Steve Asmussen, the 3-year-old colt won the Iowa Derby at Prairie Meadows by 9 ¼ lengths on July 5. He won the Risen Star (G2) at the Fair Grounds by 9 ¾ lengths before he was sidelined.
“He’s a beautiful mover and came out of the Iowa Derby in good shape,’’ Asmussen said. “[The Jim Dandy] comes back too quick off that big of a race, so we plan on just training him up to the Travers.”
The 1 ¼-mile Travers is more than a month away, but the field could be one of the best in years with a rematch featuring Sovereignty and Journalism, who were second in the Derby and Belmont, as well as top 3-year-olds including Sandman and Baeza.
A group of horses at Barn 28 at Saratoga, including Coaching Club American Oaks (G1) top contender La Cara, was placed under quarantine due to a suspected case of strangles, the New York Racing Association and the New York State Gaming Commission said Saturday.
Strangles is a contagious bacterial infection that generally affects a horse’s respiratory system and causes symptoms similar to those of strep throat in humans. When properly diagnosed and treated, strangles is not considered a life-threatening infection, and horses recover fully.
The 4-year-old filly Surprenant Cocca, who is trained by Mike Maker and stabled in Barn 28, presented symptoms early Saturday, July 19, and has been transported offsite for additional testing. La Cara, stabled in the barn, is trained by Mark Casse.
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