With 10 days to go forward of the $500,000 Jim Dandy Stakes Introduced by Mohegan Solar at Saratoga Race Course July 26, it doesn’t seem there will likely be many 3-year-olds courageous sufficient to tackle Kentucky Derby Introduced by Woodford Reserve and Belmont Stakes Introduced by NYRA Bets winner Sovereignty.
Nevertheless, the connections of Sandman have by no means been ones to shy from a problem – the colt being one in all simply three Kentucky Derby runners to return in two weeks for the Preakness Stakes this 12 months – and they’re ready to take one other crack on the twin traditional winner.
The 71 days between the Preakness and Jim Dandy mark the longest break within the son of Tapit’s profession. In response to his connections, the day without work appears to have carried out him properly forward of the second half of the season.
“He didn’t miss a beat from final (12 months’s) Saratoga (meet) up till the Preakness. This was his first form of break,” stated Terry Finley, the founder and president of West Level Thoroughbreds who personal the colt in partnership with D. J. Steady, St. Elias Steady, and CJ Stables. Social media content material creator Griffin Johnson has a minority possession of Sandman by West Level, and his experiences attending a few of the sport’s greatest races over the previous a number of months have attracted hundreds of thousands of followers and made Sandman a fan favourite.
“I believe all of us see a distinction in him bodily,” Finley continued. “We’ve obtained a methods to make on the Derby winner (Sovereignty), there’s little doubt, however I believe we’re going to see a really strong efficiency and we’ll see the place that places him as we begin the second half.”
U.S. and Canadian Corridor of Fame coach Mark Casse echoed that sentiment, stating that the horse has grown over the past two months. Along with a bit extra measurement, Sandman will even have a significant change in gear as he’ll put on blinkers for the primary time.
“Speaking to (jockeys) Johnny (Velazquez) and Jose (Ortiz), he perhaps doesn’t interact as a lot as you want early on,” Casse stated of the colt who has picked up the status of being a deep nearer. “We’re going to attempt to maintain him slightly nearer. The blinkers will try this, I imagine.”
Casse was clear to state that the blinkers addition was an experiment. With the larger purpose of the $1.25 million DraftKings Travers Stakes nonetheless forward Aug. 23, the Jim Dandy is the proper time to try it out and see how Sandman reacts.
“My concern is it would get him too aggressive early after which perhaps he gained’t end as properly,” Casse stated. “I’ve been down this highway many occasions. Typically you get them shut and that’s not the best way they need to run.
“It’s an experiment. I’ve thought lengthy and exhausting about not doing it, however we’re going to do it. We’re going to provide it a attempt.”
Sandman has been testing the blinkers in his coaching, together with throughout his remaining upkeep breeze July 16 over the Saratoga most important monitor. With train rider Reynaldo Dumont aboard, he clicked a half-mile in :49.01.
As a Grade 1 winner within the first half of the season, Sandman shouldn’t be discounted forward of the foremost races within the second half. In any case, expectations have been excessive for the reason that house owners spent $1.2 million for the colt on the 2024 Ocala Breeders’ Gross sales March Sale of 2-Yr-Olds in Coaching.
“That is precisely what you do once you purchase yearlings, breed horses, or purchase 2-year-olds,” Finley stated. “That is the runway and time interval that we’re dreaming of. We don’t get tied all the way down to the actual fact we now have to make up seven or eight lengths (on Sovereignty). We’re hoping that we present up and we’re okay. If we get beat, we’re going to be beat by a greater horse on the day.”
A graduate of West Level Army Academy, Finley began West Level Thoroughbreds in 1991. However earlier than he was set on that path, he attended Truman Excessive Faculty in Levittown, Pa., the place he was a defensive again on the soccer staff.
As Sandman logged his remaining breeze for the Jim Dandy, Finley was joined by his highschool defensive again coach, Tony Schino, and his spouse, Susan.
“It’s unbelievable. It makes you’re feeling good to see,” the coach stated about seeing how Finley’s profession has progressed. “He grew up in a decrease, middle-class space. To see him go to West Level after which get into this – I keep in mind when he first obtained into the enterprise and he had one horse. … My oldest son went to West Level due to him.”