Sandman set for Spa return in G2 Jim Dandy

D.J. Stable, St. Elias Stable, West Point Thoroughbreds and CJ Stables’ Sandman returns to the scene of his second-out graduation in Saturday’s Grade 2, $500,000 Jim Dandy presented by Mohegan Sun, at Saratoga Race Course.

Trained by dual Hall of Famer Mark Casse, the Tapit colt edged clear to a 1 3/4-length score in August sprinting seven furlongs to secure his first win in his only previous Spa start.

Sandman emerged as a sophomore to be reckoned with over a trio of stakes starts at Oaklawn Park, rallying from last-of-9 to finish a one-length second in the Grade 3 Southwest in January; closing from 13 lengths off the pace to land a 1 3/4-length third in the Grade 2 Rebel in February; and breaking through at the top-flight by closing from 13 lengths back to post a 2 1/2-length score in March in the Grade 1 Arkansas Derby when stretched out to nine furlongs for the first time.

He endured a troubled trip over a sloppy and sealed track, closing from 18th and 15 lengths back to finish seventh in the Grade 1 Kentucky Derby in May won by returning rival and subsequent Grade 1 Belmont Stakes presented by NYRA Bets-winner Sovereignty, who has been installed as the 2-5 morning-line favorite here Saturday.

Sandman enters the Jim Dandy, a nine-furlong test for sophomores, from a rallying 2 3/4-length third in the Grade 1 Preakness on May 17 at Pimlico Race Course. He shipped to Belmont Park following his Preakness effort before heading upstate to Saratoga where he has worked in blinkers as he readies for his Spa return.

“He’s happy and he looks well. We know he likes this racetrack – this is home field for him,” said Casse, who recently picked up his 4,000th career win in North America.

Sandman, listed as the 6-1 third choice on the morning line in a compact field of five, will exit post 2 in rein to Jose Ortiz, who was aboard for the Arkansas Derby score and is currently second in the Spa jockey standings with 16 wins heading into Thursday’s card.