Hall of Fame trainer Todd Pletcher is hoping history will repeat itself as he plans to use the Grade 2 Jim Dandy presented by Mohegan Sun as a springboard to the Grade 1, $1.25 million DraftKings Travers with Renegade.
On Saturday, Renegade made an inexorable charge under jockey Irad Ortiz, Jr. to win the Jim Dandy by a half-length over Commandment. Winner of the Listed Sam F. Davis and Grade 1 Arkansas Derby earlier this year, Renegade entered the 1 1/8-mile Jim Dandy off a second in in the Grade 1 Kentucky Derby in May at Churchill Downs and a third in the Grade 1 Belmont Stakes presented by NYRA Bets at Saratoga on June 6.
"I was a little concerned a little early on [in the Jim Dandy]," said Pletcher. "I thought he had dropped too far back, but Irad stuck to it and believes that's the way the horse wants to be ridden. He was confident enough in his opinion to have the horse run that kind of race."
Pletcher has won the DraftKings Travers three times, all with horses who entered the 10-furlong event for 3-year-olds off a victory in the Jim Dandy [Flower Alley, 2005; Stay Thirsty, 2011; Fierceness, 2024]. Renegade is owned by Robert and Lawana Low and Repole Stable, with Mike Repole fully owning Stay Thirsty and Fierceness at the time of their Travers victories. This year's DraftKing Travers, the centerpiece of the Saratoga Race Course meeting, is set for August 29.
"We'll try to prepare for [the Travers] and hope he continues to do as well as he has done," said Pletcher.
The Jim Dandy was one of five wins on Saturday's card for Pletcher, a feat he also accomplished in 2004 and a record he shares with Chad Brown [2019, 2021, 2024]. The five wins catapulted Pletcher to second in the Saratoga trainer standings with 12 wins for the meet, one behind Brown.
Three of those wins on Saturday—Tuscan Sky in Race 3, Pinpoint in Race 4, and Life Changing in Race 5—came with horses wholly owned by Repole Stable.
Tuscan Sky, Renegade's workmate as of late, wore down Reasoned Analysis to win a $100,000 claiming race by a head. A claim had been entered on Tuscan Sky, but it was voided and the stakes-winning son of Vino Rosso was returned to Pletcher's stable.
"He's back in our barn and seems to be in good shape," said Pletcher. "We kind of had mixed feelings when he got claimed; $100,000 is a lot of money, but he's kind of a cool horse and a very good breeze horse, so he has made a good companion for horses like Renegade. Those were some tough campaigners [in the claiming race]."
Pinpoint and Life Changing were impressive winners of their respective six-furlong maiden special weight events for 2-year-olds. Fifth, beaten 15 1/4 lengths by Booked on debut June 7, Pinpoint moved forward with a 6 1/4-length win against open company, while Life Changing defeated fillies by seven lengths at first asking.
Pinpoint, a $300,000 Keeneland September yearling by Not This Time, is the first performer out of his dam Magic Circle, third in the 2021 Grade 3 Demoiselle and winner of the 2022 Busanda at Aqueduct Racetrack.
"A big improvement from his debut," said Pletcher of Pinpoint's race. "I think the experience really helped, having a race under his belt with some subsequent good breezes. We're happy to see him improve, and we feel like the type of horse who will appreciate some more distance down the road."
Life Changing, by Life Is Good, was purchased for $1.025 million out of the Fasig-Tipton Saratoga Sale and is a half-sister to 2024 Grade 1 Preakness and Pennsylvania Derby winner Seize the Grey.
"She had been training well for her debut," said Pletcher. "She has lots of natural speed. I was particularly happy with the way she handled everything. She was all class in the paddock and took everything in stride. She broke alertly, like she has been in the mornings."
Pletcher said he "would not rule out" the Grade 1, $300,000 Spendthrift Farm Hopeful on September 6 for Pinpoint, while Life Changing is under consideration for the Grade 1, $300,000 Spinaway the day before. Both races are seven furlongs, with the Spinaway serving as a "Win and You're In" race for the Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies.
Pletcher's fourth win of the day came with Mark D. Breen's Sassmaster, a game one-length winner of race 7, a 1 1/8-mile entry-level allowance for 3-year-olds and up. The trainer said that Sassmaster, who now has a pair of wins in three starts, exited the race in good shape.
Time to Dream finished fourth in the Grade 3 Lake George after brushing the gate and having jockey Edgard Zayas temporarily lose a stirrup. Pletcher said the 3-year-old filly owned by Repole Stable exited the race with a superficial injury.
"She got a laceration on her right fore, which was when she hit the side of the gate," said Pletcher.
Zayas subsequently was off his remaining mounts on Saturday after sustaining an injury to the big toe on his right foot that required a trip to Saratoga Hospital for stitches. His agent, Tito Fuentes, reported Zayas is off his mounts on Sunday and expects to return to action on Wednesday.
Twin Oaks Bloodstock's Dresden Row, beaten a half-length when third in yesterday's Grade 1 Arlington Million at Colonial Downs, was as of this morning en route back to Saratoga and came out of the race in good shape, according to Pletcher.
According to Equibase, Pletcher now has 5,997 wins for his career. He has no entrants at any track on Sunday. He has two entered in Monday's second race at Finger Lakes Racetrack. This upcoming week at Saratoga, he has entered well-bred Maria Louise entered in Race 3 and a pair of main-track-only entrants in Race 6 on Wednesday, Highlands Way in Race 7 and Donegal Surges in the John Morrissey on Thursday, and Big Frosty in Race 3 and Code in the Grade 2, $500,000 Fasig-Tipton Saratoga Oaks on Friday.
Travers, Pennsylvania Derby Options for Commandment
Wathnan Racing's Commandment, with blinkers on for the first time, finished a half-length second to deep-closing Renegade in Saturday's nine-furlong Grade 2 Jim Dandy presented by Mohegan Sun, at Saratoga Race Course.
Trained by dual Eclipse Award-winner Brad Cox, the Into Mischief bay has banked in excess of $1.4 million in a solid sophomore campaign that includes wins at Gulfstream Park in the Grade 2 Fountain of Youth in February and Grade 1 Florida Derby in March.
Commandment overcame a slow start to finish a 5 1/4-length seventh to the victorious Golden Tempo in the Grade 1 Kentucky Derby in May and rallied from eighth-of-9 to finish second to that same rival in the Grade 1 Belmont Stakes presented by NYRA Bets in June at Saratoga.
On Saturday, with blinkers on, Commandment was closer to the pace under Flavien Prat, stalking from third position behind the leading pair of Chip Honcho and Silent Tactic. Commandment made his bid late in the turn and was in command in upper stretch while battling Silent Tactic. However, the wide-running Renegade was full of momentum and would not be denied.
"Talking to the jockey after the race he said turning for home after he made the lead, he was just waiting and didn't want to kick clear," Cox said. "He brought him over to feel the pressure of Silent Tactic and he responded, but he never saw or felt the pressure of Renegade until he got by. Once he got by, he said he reengaged and went after him, and you can see that in the replay. It was a game effort. I'm proud of the effort. Unfortunately, we didn't come out on the right end."
Cox said he doesn't believe the blinkers were a factor in Commandment not seeing the charge of the Irad Ortiz, Jr.-piloted Renegade.
"He doesn't wear a lot of blinker, so I don't want to blame it on that," Cox said. "I think Irad probably did a good job of keeping his horse outside and not running up near us and getting us game and competitive again."
Cox said Commandment will likely keep the blinkers on moving forward.
"I like how he traveled in them and I thought it was a good effort," Cox said.
Cox indicated Commandment exited the Jim Dandy in good order.
"I love the way he came out of the race, super pleased with him this morning," Cox said. "His energy was good and he cooled out well last night. Everything was very positive with him."
Cox said the connections will now mull over a potential rematch with Renegade and the fresh dual Classic-winner Golden Tempo at Saratoga in the Grade 1, $1.25 million DraftKings Travers on August 29 or potentially wait for the Grade 1 Pennsylvania Derby on September 19 at Parx Racing.
"I don't know about the Travers. We'll make a decision when we feel like we need to, but it will probably be a decision between that and the P.A. Derby," Cox said.
Stonestreet Stables' Amberglen settled in second position off the speed of longshot Candy Moonshine before pouncing to the lead at the top of the lane and staying on strong to post a 1 1/4-length score over late-running Deep Learning in Saturday's Grade 3 Lake George presented by Surfside at the Spa.
The Irish-bred Night of Thunder chestnut entered from a frontrunning allowance romp versus elders on June 19 at Churchill Downs and Cox praised the sharp ride from returning pilot Irad Ortiz, Jr. to secure a first stakes score for Amberglen.
"Perfect trip. On the inner turf, you normally want to be close, and they weren't going that quick," Cox said. "Irad did a good job of breaking, getting her involved and getting her to relax. She responded well when he asked her down the lane and stayed on well."
Cox said he will speak to the connections about a potential start in the Grade 2, $400,000 Lake Placid on August 29 here as a bridge to the Grade 1, $750,000 Queen Elizabeth II Challenge Cup on October 10 at Keeneland.
"The goal would be to try and get her back to Keeneland," Cox said. "Now, do we need a race between here and there, I don't know. I feel like she runs well fresh. We'll see. She does enough in the morning to keep herself fit."
Cox worked a trio of upcoming stakes hopefuls over the Oklahoma training turf Sunday, including Cadenza, Sneaky Good and Tabiti.
Stonestreet Stables Cadenza, a sophomore daughter of Charlatan, worked solo in preparation for a possible start in the $200,000 Galway, a 5 1/2-furlong turf sprint for sophomore fillies on August 15 here.
Cadenza won the six-furlong Take the A Train in May at Belmont at the Big A and has made her two most recent outings in Grade 3 turf sprints at the Spa, finishing third in both the Soaring Softly in June and the Coronation Cup over yielding ground on July 18.
NK Racing and LNJ Foxwoods' Sneaky Good, a sophomore daughter of Into Mischief, has made all seven career starts on the main track, including a win in the Sandpiper in December at Tampa Bay Downs. She subsequently hit the board in a trio of graded events and was last seen finishing a distant fourth in the 6 1/2-furlong Grade 3 Victory Ride here.
The $450,000 Keeneland September Yearling Sale purchase is out of the turf winning Tonalist mare Gale.
Sneaky Good is also under consideration for the Galway and worked in company to the outside of Tabiti.
"Just maintenance," Cox said regarding the Cadenza breeze. "We weren't looking to do anything fancy. We'll nominate to [the Galway] as well as Sneaky Good.
"Kentucky Downs is coming up and that could be something to look at for them as well," Cox added. "We'll see what makes sense in regard to races."
Juddmonte's British homebred Tabiti, a 4-year-old daughter of Kingman, won a pair of Group 3 sprints in England for her former conditioner Ralph Beckett before moving stateside last fall to run third in the 6 1/2-furlong Grade 2 Music City at Kentucky Downs. She closed out her sophomore campaign with a 2 3/4-length fifth as the mutuel favorite in the one-mile Grade 2 Valley View in October at Keeneland.
"With Tabiti we're just trying to get her back going," Cox said. "We're still trying to figure out what she's best at. We're just trying to get some miles in her. We've got a little more training before we need to pick out a race but she's training fine."
Sovereignty, Baeza Breeze Ahead of Whitney
Hall of Fame trainer Bill Mott sent out reigning Horse of the Year Sovereignty and Grade 1-winner Baeza to breeze separately over Saratoga Race Course's Oklahoma dirt training track on Sunday as they approach the Grade 1, $1 million Whitney on Saturday here, a "Win and You're In" qualifier for the Grade 1 Breeders' Cup Classic in October at Keeneland.
The Whitney will be broadcast to a national audience on FOX as part of a two-hour edition of FOX Saratoga Saturday, which will begin at 5 p.m. Eastern Time. For the complete broadcast schedule, visit https://www.nyra.com/saratoga/racing/tv-schedule/.
Godolphin's Kentucky homebred Sovereignty, with assistant trainer Neil Poznansky up, started his work a bit ahead and to the inside of workmate Thunder Roll, maintaining a narrow advantage as he covered a half-mile in 50.10 seconds, according to NYRA clockers.
"He went nice," Mott said. "He was on the bridle. Neil thought he felt really good. He said when the other horse kept inching closer, he kept tightening the reins and acted like he wanted to go on."
Sovereignty, winner of last year's Grade 1 Kentucky Derby, Grade 1 Belmont Stakes presented by NYRA Bets and Grade 1 DraftKings Travers, has made two starts this year, finishing second in the Grade 2 Oaklawn Handicap in April and third in the Grade 1 Stephen Foster last out on June 27 at Churchill Downs.
C R K Stable and breeder Grandview Equine's Baeza breezed a half-mile in 49.20, according to NYRA clockers, in company with Veblen [49.50].
"He looked great," Mott said. "I mean both my horses worked good. They just had four furlong breezes. I think they are fit. I think they are doing well. I think they appear to be ready to go. We just have to hope they continue to do good for the next six days."
Baeza has put forth two solid efforts this year in his first outings for Mott after he took over training duties for the son of McKinzie following the passing of Hall of Fame trainer John Shirreffs. The bay was third in the Grade 2 Alysheba on May 1 at Churchill Downs ahead of a last-out second in the Stephen Foster.
Mott has two chances at securing his second Whitney win, joining Arthur's Ride, who launched a mild 6-1 upset in 2024.
Golden Tempo Turns in Second Spa Breeze
Golden Tempo, winner of the Grade 1 Kentucky Derby and Grade 1 Belmont Stakes presented by NYRA Bets, on Sunday continued his preparations for Saratoga Race Course's Grade 1 DraftKings Travers by breezing four furlongs over the main track in 47.67 seconds under jockey Jose Ortiz.
The 3-year-old son of Curlin worked inside of stablemate Stirring Words and galloped out strongly, eventually slowing to a jog and continuing to the quarter pole before turning around and exiting the track. The breeze was Golden Tempo's second over the surface as the colt had covered four furlongs in 48.51 one week ago.
The DraftKings Travers for 3-year-olds will be contested on August 29 at 1 1/4-miles, the same distance as the Kentucky Derby in May and this year's Belmont Stakes, which was held on June 6 here at the Spa.
"He had another strong work with a nice gallop out, which his ideal for him," said trainer Cherie DeVaux, who trains Golden Tempo for breeders Phipps Stable and St. Elias Stable. "The half-mile work is what's published, but he continues on the gallop out, and that's by design. This is a little different than the we had to train him before because he did get sick, so we're coming off a little bit of a layoff. We're trying to keep him happy but we're also trying to get him fit and make sure he's peaking at the right time."
DeVaux provided an update on C R K Stable's Englishman, who on Friday at Keeneland earned a best-of-five bullet when breezing five furlongs in 58.00 seconds. Englishman, the dominant winner of the Grade 1 Woody Stephens presented by Mohegan Sun on June 6, is training up to a start in the Grade 1 H. Allen Jerkens Memorial, a seven-furlong race for 3-year-olds on DraftKings Travers Day.
"Excellent," said DeVaux of Englishman's Friday breeze. "That horse is super impressive in his works. He's an amazing horse. He's a little different. He doesn't even look like he's even moving. It's a privilege to have a horse like him, and I just hope I make the right moves to keep him happy and sound."
DeVaux issued an upbeat bulletin regarding John D. Gunther and Eurowest Bloodstock Services' Deep Manhattan, a 4-year-old son of Justify who on Thursday will be making his first start in more than 20 months when he competes in an entry-level allowance for 3-year-olds and up at one mile over Saratoga's inner turf course. In his lone previous start, Deep Manhattan broke his maiden by five lengths in a maiden special weight for 2-year-olds at Fair Grounds in November 2024. Jose Ortiz was aboard for the maiden win and has the return assignment aboard Deep Manhattan, who was tabbed at 9/2 on the morning line.
"He's a very talented colt," said DeVaux. "He just had a little bit of a soft tissue injury that the Gunthers have been wonderfully patient with. He's a horse that acts like his future is way ahead of him. He's doing great. I can't say enough about how talented I think he is."
DeVaux on Saturday saddled Supercharger to a half-length victory in Colonial Downs' Grade 2 Secretariat, a 10-furlong turf test for 3-year-olds.
Supercharger, who was making his stakes debut in the Secretariat, is owned by C R K Stable and was bred in Kentucky by Hall of Fame trainer Ron McAnally and his wife Debbie.
"He shipped in [to Saratoga] this morning," said DeVaux. "We'll come up with a plan for him. We'll be excited about yesterday, check on him, and come up with the rest of his year."
Twinkle Town to Hopeful Stakes
4 G Racing's Kentucky homebred Twinkle Town was a pacesetting winner of Saturday's Grade 2, $250,000 Saratoga Special at Saratoga Race Course for trainer Ken McPeek, and will now target the seven-furlong Grade 1, $300,000 Spendthrift Farm Hopeful on September 6 following his six-length victory under Jose Ortiz.
"He came back super, no problem, and he'll be pointed towards the Hopeful," McPeek said. "He's a pretty special horse, and we're really enjoying this one. He's a colt that could take us to some big places."
Twinkle Town broke sharply in the 6 1/2-furlong sprint, and though McPeek and Ortiz agreed that Twinkle Town didn't need to be on the lead, he did just that following slow starts for the two favorites Booked and Flight Command. The son of Take Charge Indy was pressured by a rushed-up Booked through the half-mile in 45.26 seconds, and that foe loomed large entering the stretch, but Twinkle Town responded to the challenge with aplomb and kicked clear to the easy victory in a final time of 1:16.44, earning an 88 Beyer Speed Figure.
"I was surprised he was on the lead," McPeek said. "We didn't think he was a horse that had to be up there, but he's just ultra-fast. It's a credit to his talent. He stood like a statue in the paddock, calm and collected, and nothing much stirs him at all."
McPeek commented on the colt's breeding, with his sire Take Charge Indy's dam being the multiple graded stakes-winner and prolific broodmare Take Charge Lady, winner of eight graded stakes for McPeek.
"Having trained Take Charge Indy's mother makes it special," McPeek said. "She was ultra-fast herself, and I think she passed that onto the stallion. They bred a really nice horse."
Twinkle Town, who graduated on debut over sloppy and sealed footing on June 27 at Churchill Downs, is out of the winning Liam's Map mare Southern Grayce. His second dam, She Be Keene, is a half-sister to 2009 Eclipse Award Champion 2-Year-Old Filly She Be Wild.
Casse Pleased with Silent Tactic
In the week leading up to the Grade 2, $500,000 Jim Dandy presented by Mohegan Sun at Saratoga Race Course, dual Hall of Fame trainer Mark Casse was concerned with how a compact five-horse field would affect the late-running Silent Tactic in his first start off a four-month layoff.
Though the son of Tacitus wound up third in the nine-furlong route for sophomores won by Renegade, he showed a new dimension when applying light pressure to pacesetter Chip Honcho from one length back and fighting on gamely under Luis Saez to be defeated 2 1/2 lengths. He earned a career-best 94 Beyer Speed Figure for the effort.
Casse said the more prominent approach was a pleasant change from the deep-closing tactics he employed to win the Grade 3 Southwest in February at Oaklawn Park ahead of two rallying runner-up efforts in the Grade 2 Rebel and Grade 1 Arkansas Derby - the latter won by Renegade by four lengths.
"He looks great today," Casse said. "I am so proud of him. When you look at his races at Oaklawn, they were going halves in 46 and change and he was two or three lengths off the lead, tugging. So, I just thought that maybe we should get a forward position."
The Jim Dandy was Silent Tactic's first effort since the Arkansas Derby on March 28. He was entered in the Kentucky Derby, but scratched due to a foot issue. The Jim Dandy was a tough ask for a comeback race, facing the likes of Grade 1-winners Renegade and Commandment - who wound up finishing 1-2 - but Casse said Silent Tactic held his own with a big effort.
"Ideally, it would have been nice to get an easier spot - he was coming off a four-month layoff, and it wasn't just the four months, but four months of dealing with a foot issue," Casse said. "That makes it even more difficult. I felt yesterday that if he was going in at 90 percent, that would be good, and he only got beat 2 1/2 lengths."
Campaigned by John C. Oxley, Silent Tactic is now poised for a likely rematch with Renegade, and a shot at Grade 1 Kentucky Derby and Grade 1 Belmont Stakes presented by NYRA Bets-winner Golden Tempo, in the Grade 1, $1.25 million DraftKings Travers on August 29 here.
"Most definitely," Casse said of a start in the Travers.
Earlier on the Saturday card at the Spa, Casse sent out D.J. Stable's Voyager to a pacesetting nose maiden win in Race 1, a 1 1/16-mile turf maiden, in her first start on grass after two dirt efforts, including a runner-up effort to Harper's Corner in the Listed Schuylerville on July 3 here. She also stretched out beyond six furlongs for the first time, and made every pole a winning one under Irad Ortiz, Jr. while fending off the late surge from Correlation Trade, completing the course in 1:43.97 and earning a 70 Beyer.
Casse said the daughter of Justify, who was purchased for $300,000 at the 2025 Keeneland January Horses of All Ages Sale, will point to a cutback in the one-mile Grade 1 Natalma on September 12 at Woodbine Racetrack next.
"I think those are both really good horses in that race and they're both going to be stars," Casse said. "The Natalma is one turn, and the Breeders' Cup is two, so I wanted to get a two-turn race into her. I'm going a little backwards going two turns and then one, but there's a method to my madness."
In Race 8, a 5 1/2-furlong turf allowance for fillies and mares 3-years-old and up, Casse enjoyed a win with the Australian-bred mare Heat Missile, who made both her barn and American debut following a five-month respite dating to an off-the-board finish in the Group 3 Aspiration Quality in March at Randwick. She is campaigned by Gary Barber - who co-owned her in Australia - and Cayton Park Stud.
Ridden by Jose Ortiz, the 5-year-old Too Darn Hot dark bay - who was foaled in November 2021 - rallied from seventh-of-10 to sweep past her rivals in the stretch and coast to the 2 1/4-length victory, earning an 85 Beyer.
"She's fun," Casse said. "We got her and had no idea - I don't think we've ever had a horse from Australia. We worked her a couple times and I said to Gary [Barber], 'I don't know, Gary, I know she can run!' She's come over and done well. She's an athlete."
Casse said no further plans have been made for Heat Missile, who holds a 12-4-2-0 lifetime record with $142,517 in earnings.
This press release has not been edited by BloodHorse. If there are any questions please contact the organization that produced the release.
