Sandman ships to Saratoga to get ready for Jim Dandy

Grade 1 winner Sandman, last seen finishing third in the Preakness on May 17 at Pimlico, shipped from Belmont to Saratoga on Monday morning to prepare for a start in the Grade 2, $500,000 Jim Dandy.

Hall of Fame trainer Mark Casse conditions Sandman for owners D.J. Stable, St. Elias Stable, West Point Thoroughbreds and CJ Stables. Casse said the Tapit colt is likely to add blinkers as he prepares for the 1 1/8-mile Jim Dandy on July 26 as part of a Spa summer campaign he hopes will include the $1.25 million Travers (G1) on Aug. 23.

“He left for Saratoga this morning,” Casse said. “I wanted to give him a little bit of time. He ran all winter long and I knew when we decided to run him back in the Preakness that the Belmont was going to be out of the question.”

Sandman made the grade with a rallying 2 1/2-length score – despite lugging out sharply down the lane - in the 1 1/8-mile Arkansas Derby (G1) in March at Oaklawn. He then contested the first two legs of the Triple Crown, finishing seventh in the Kentucky Derby over a sloppy and sealed Churchill Downs main track. Last out, with Hall of Famer John Velazquez up, he closed from last of nine, 12 lengths off the pace, to finish a 2 3/4-length third to the victorious Journalism.

“I thought he ran well. He was caked in mud after the race. He struggled to keep his eyes open. When we scoped him afterwards, he had half the Pimlico racetrack in his trachea,” Casse said. “Johnny said he thought he lost focus a little. I'll probably put blinkers on him for the Jim Dandy because he has done some wandering down the stretch.”

Sandman graduated in August at the Spa, edging away to a 1 3/4-length win in a seven-furlong maiden sprint at second asking.

“As a 2-year-old, the best race he ran was at Saratoga. So, my plan is to try and run in the Jim Dandy and get him ready for the Travers,” Casse said.

Sandman has banked in excess of $1.4 million via a 10: 3-1-3 record.

Casse is putting together a significant lineup for the five-day Belmont Stakes racing festival slated for June 4 through June 8 at Saratoga.

One of the most exciting Casse prospects is D.J. Stable’s Kentucky homebred Nitrogen, who brings a four-race win streak into the $300,000 Wonder Again (G2), a 1 1/16-mile turf test for sophomore fillies on June 7.

The Medaglia d’Oro bay was a three-quarter length third in the Natalma (G1) in September at Woodbine and closed from 12th to finish a close third in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf in November at Del Mar.

She is perfect in four starts this year, graduating in the Ginger Brew at Gulfstream Park in January and adding the Florida Oaks (G3) in March at Tampa Bay Downs, the Appalachian (G2) in April at Keeneland and the Edgewood (G2) on May 2 at Churchill Downs.

“She left today from Kentucky to go to Saratoga. We're very proud of her and hopefully it continues,” Casse said.

She has been piloted throughout her streak by Jose Ortiz, who has utilized her impressive turn-of-foot with great success. Casse said the rider believes the talented bay has won with plenty in the tank.

“It would appear that way. Jose certainly feels that way,” Casse said.

Other Belmont Stakes racing Festival starters for Casse include La Cara in the Acorn (G1), My Boy Prince in the Jaipur (G1), Vernon Valley in the Astoria, Blinging It Back in the Tremont, Creed’s Gold and Time to Dazzle in the Intercontinental (G2), Corruption in the Belmont Gold Cup (G2), Abientot in the Soaring Softly (G3), Filo Di Arianna in the Poker (G3), Charlotte’s Heart in the Bouwerie and Clear Conscience in the Kingston. Mi Bago, who is entered in Friday’s Penn Mile (G3), remains possible for a quick return in the Pennine Ridge (G3).

Casse noted that the presence of Christophe Clement, who passed away over the weekend, will be greatly missed this summer at Saratoga.

“He was a great horseman. It's a terrible loss for his family and for horse racing,” Casse said. “The biggest compliment I can give any trainer is when I looked at a race and he had a horse in the race, I knew I had to beat him. I can count the number of guys I would say that about on one hand. I had a great deal of respect for him.”