Jim Dandy and Haskell Bring Out Old and New Faces Alike

This weekend has traditionally been one my favorite weekends on the horse racing calendar each year. It is when the top 3-year-olds return to racing after the long, seven weeks between the Belmont Stakes (gr. I) in the first week of June; and the Jim Dandy (gr. II) and Resorts Casino and Hotel Haskell Invitational (gr. I) this Saturday. It is the weekend when Triple Crown runners typically begin to return to action to meet those that are new to the sophomore scene – having missed the Triple Crown for one reason or the other.

Some might not characterize the seven weeks between the Belmont and the Haskell and Jim Dandy much of a lull anyhow – especially looking at the fields set to run in the Haskell and Jim Dandy this weekend.

Trainer Steve Asmussen won his second Dwyer Stakes (gr. 2) July 2 with Dominus, who ran like he was well-named, winning by some two lengths after leading from the start. Asmussen stays in New York with Dominus who makes his next start Saturday in the Jim Dandy. Peter Pan Stakes (gr. 2) winner Alteration and Matt Winn Stakes (gr. 3) winner Scotus are two other post-Kentucky Derby presented by Yum! Brands (gr. 1) stakes winners who will also join the fray in the Jim Dandy.

But the Jim Dandy also features two Triple Crown veterans in Stay Thirsty (second in the Belmont behind Ruler on Ice last out); and Blue Grass Stakes (gr. I) winner Brilliant Speed, (third in the Belmont in his last race. So there is plenty of quality for the Jim Dandy with acts as the local Saratoga prep race for the Travers Stakes (gr. I) to be run later this meeting at the Spa.

Past winners of the 1-1/8 mile Jim Dandy include Arts and Letters (1969), Affirmed (’78), Conquistador Cielo (’82), Louis Quatorze (’96), Favorite Trick (’98) and Street Sense in 2007 so there is plenty of quality and history to keep the Jim Dandy on the list of important races for 3-year-olds.

Two Triple Crown race winners are headed for the 1-1/8 mile Haskell at Monmouth Park in New Jersey. Preakness (gr. 1) winner Shackleford (photo above) and Belmont winner Ruler On Ice are both expected to enter the Haskell and a win by either, perhaps establishes them as the favorite for champion 3-year-old colt or gelding at year’s end. Kentucky Derby winner Animal Kingdom was diagnosed with a small fracture to the cannon bone of his left hind leg and will be out of action for an unknown period of time.

Astrology, third in the Preakness; and ninth-place Derby finisher Pants On Fire, are two other Triple Crown alumni headed to the Haskell. Louisiana Derby winner Pants On Fire, also won the Pegasus (gr. III), the main local prep for the Haskell June 2, defeating Concealed Identity, also back at Monmouth Park for the Haskell.
Trainer Bob Baffert, who won his fourth Haskell with Lookin at Lucky last year, is back with Coil, winner of the grade 3 Affirmed at Hollywood Park in June before being edged by longshot Dreamy Kid in the Swaps (gr. 2) July 9, also at Hollywood.

The Haskell may not have the prestige the Derby, Preakness and Belmont carry, but like the Jim Dandy, there is plenty of history to solidify the importance of Monmouth Park’s signature race. Rachel Alexandra (2009), Big Brown (2008), War Emblem (2002), Point Given (2001), Skip Away (1996), Holy Bull (’94), Bet Twice (’87) and Our Native (’73) are among the Haskell winners’ fraternity.

It is also that time of year when old faces from the Triple Crown and before begin to return while the boys of summer like Scotus, Coil and Dominus have a chance to show their talent against the bigger names.

I again am looking forward to one of my favorites weekends of racing.

Louisiana Derby May Have The Fire and Machismo For Kentucky

Upsets in nearly all of the Kentucky Derby presented by Yum! Brands (gr. 1) prep races this Spring will without doubt make this one of the most difficult crops to decipher on the first Saturday in May.

We are all left wondering if Resorts World New York Casino Wood Memorial (gr. 1) winner Toby’s Corner is a one hit wonder.

Is Santa Anita Derby (gr. 1) upset winner Midnight Interlude so much on the improve that he can win the most prestigious race in North American?

What about Uncle Mo? (photo) He was looked upon as unbeatable before his loss in the Wood Memorial.

Don’t forget The Factor. Before his dismal performance in the Arkansas Derby (gr. 1), Churchill Downs handicapper Mike Battaglia made the Bob Baffert trainee the favorite to win the Run for the Roses.

Anybody remember Soldat? As pretty as he looked winning the Fountain of Youth Stakes (gr. 2) in February, he looked just as ugly running fifth in the Florida Derby (gr. 1) won by Dialed In. And there was that allowance race in January that he won by more than 10 lengths. What happened to that?

So Dialed In is your favorite? Care to explain his schedule. He won the Holy Bull (gr. 3) in January then we didn’t hear from him in February. When trainer Nick Zito does start him, Dialed In is running against older horses in an optional claiming race. Then almost another 30 days go by and Dialed In comes bouncing down the Gulfstream Park stretch to win the Florida Derby. You remember all of those Kentucky Derby winners that have taken the Fountain of Youth-Optional Claiming-Florida Derby path to Kentucky... don’t you?

Look at the graded stakes earning list and you’ll see Comma to the Top at number three – right behind Archarcharch. Really? We’ve been listening to the connections of Comma to the Top tell us the Kentucky Derby is not an option since his fourth-place finish in the San Felipe Stakes (gr. 2) in March. Trainer Peter Miller said then, he had concerns about the colts ability to win at 1-1/4 miles. Comma to the Top then runs second by a head behind Midnight Interlude in the Santa Anita Derby and plans suddenly might change.

Archarcharch won the Arkansas Derby at 25-1 odds. He has the Cinderella story with long time midwest training stalwart Jinks Fires legging up jockey Jon Court with the same heartland credentials. The son of Calumet stallion Arch, is also one of four horses to win two Kentucky Derby prep races this year joining Dialed In, Toby’s Corner and The Factor. Archarcharch also won the Southwest Stakes (gr. 3) at Oaklawn to go along with his Arkansas Derby tally. So does he go from Arkansas long shot to Kentucky contender in one race? Or is it two out of the last three races after running third in the Rebel behind The Factor?

Just more than two weeks from the Kentucky Derby and it seems we must find the horse with the fewest strikes instead of the horse with the most accomplishments.

Is such a race the Louisiana Derby (gr. 2)?

Pants on Fire was a surprise but logical 6-1 winner of the Louisiana Derby defeating favored Mucho Macho Man. This may be an improving colt and wouldn’t it be nice to see jockey Rosie Napravnik become the first female jockey to adorn the blanket of roses in the Churchill winner's circle?

Louisiana Derby runner-up Nehro is trained by Steve Asmussen of Rachel Alexandra and Curlin fame; and third-place finisher Mucho Macho Man lost a shoe in the Fair Grounds showcase.

That’s very shallow handicapping admittedly. But the other contenders in this year’s Derby, don’t seem to pass that simple litmus test like the Louisiana Derby contenders.

Everybody likes to talk about the depth of the Florida Derby this year – and justifiably so. Fountain of Youth winner Soldat, Dialed In, To Honor and Serve and Gotham Stakes (gr. 2) winner Stay Thirsty were among that group. But look behind the top three finishers in the Louisiana Derby and Elite Alex, Machen and Wilkinson – all promising Derby contenders in their own right – rounding out the top five finishers.

So much can and will change in the next two weeks before the Kentucky Derby. Contenders will likely scratch and wise-guy horses will begin to appear from the darkness and fog of morning works at Churchill Downs. There will be speculations, calculations and reservations between now and that famous moment when the field of 20 breaks from the gate at Churchill Downs.

It seems now, however, that one needs look no further than New Orleans to find the Kentucky Derby contender with the least voodoo.