Brown confirms Zandon, Early Voting for Jim Dandy

Brown confirmed Early Voting for the Grade 2, $600,000 Jim Dandy on July 30 at Saratoga. The Preakness Stakes winner will square off against stablemate Zandon, who finished third in the Kentucky Derby last out.

Early Voting, a son of second crop stallion Gun Runner, was under consideration for the Haskell Invitational (G1) on Saturday at Monmouth Park, a race where Brown will run talented sophomore Jack Christopher. 

“Early Voting is here and he’ll be going in the Jim Dandy,” Brown said. “Jack Christopher looked great this morning and looked ready to go for the Haskell. At the end of the day, I was going to run two horses in one race and one in the other and I’d rather only run the one in the Haskell. I just didn’t see the benefit of putting Early Voting in a larger field against a really fast horse and what it might do to him five weeks out from the Travers.”

Zandon, winner of the Blue Grass Stakes and third-place finisher in the Kentucky Derby, worked on the main track at Saratoga Race Course for the first time Saturday for trainer Chad Brown.

With exercise rider Kriss Bon aboard, the Jeff Drown-owned colt worked four furlongs in 48.69 seconds in preparation for the Jim Dandy, a nine-furlong test for sophomores on July 30.

“He worked super,” Brown said. “I wanted to get him out there to stretch his legs. He has been working along down at Belmont. I told Kriss to go in 48 and a couple (of fifths). Kriss said he felt well. Our plan was to get him over the track and get him a good feel for it. He couldn’t have went any better.”

Zandon, who won the Blue Grass (G1) at Keeneland as part of his spring campaign, has not raced since his third-place finish in the Kentucky Derby. Brown said he has noticed some physical improvement in Zandon by giving him some time off from racing.

“I wanted to give him a breather from the racing end of it,” Brown said. “I’m really pleased with him. He put on some weight. He really looks better than ever right now.”

Brown also breezed sophomore stars Early Voting, winner of the Preakness in May at Pimlico, and unbeaten Jack Christopher.

Early Voting, owned by Klaravich Stables, also won the Withers (G3) and finished second in the  Wood Memorial (G2) at Aqueduct. He worked four furlongs in 49.25 seconds.

Jack Christopher, winner of the Champagne (G1) and the Woody Stephens (G1) at Belmont Park, went in 49.80 seconds. He is targeting the Haskell (G1) on July 23 at Monmouth Park.