The Jim Dandy Controversy and a Look at theTop Three Year Olds

Forte (outside) head-to-head with Saudi Crown on a drenched track. (Adam Coglianese)

A Look At The Top 3YOs

By Ashley Tamulonis

It was a sloppy day at Saratoga, but an off-track did not stop Champion Forte from reminding us all why he was the Kentucky Derby favorite. 

Sent off as the 3-5 choice in the $500,000, Grade 2 Jim Dandy, the son of Violence, sporting first-time blinkers for trainer Todd Pletcher, broke sharply and settled in third on the rail. With Angel of Empire to his outside, Forte tracked the pace, and as the small field turned for home, jockey Irad Ortiz, Jr. sought to get his colt off the rail and into the clear.

In seeking a clear path, Forte and Ortiz, Jr. bumped Angel of Empire and carried them toward the center of the track, making it three across as that duo attempted to run down pace-setting Saudi Crown. Once on even terms with Saudi Crown, Forte and Ortiz, Jr. continued to trade blows with both Saudi Crown, who drifted out considerably, to the inside, and Angel of Empire to the outside.

As the wire loomed, Forte made one last surge to get his nose down on the wire first. Saudi Crown missed by the narrowest of decisions with Angel of Empire third. Disarm completed the superfecta with Hit Show rounding out the order of finish. The final time for the 1 1/8-mile was 1:49.61.

Considering the large amount of pressure, the NYRA stewards have been under during this meet, it came as no surprise that they launched an inquiry into the stretch run. Even less surprising was the fact that they allowed the order of finish to stand after a very brief viewing of the various camera angles. Forte retained his win while bettors and spectators alike were left to wonder just what constitutes a disqualification and exactly how much Irad Ortiz, Jr. will continue to be allowed to get away with. The argument can certainly be made that Saudi Crown caused a good bit of the stretch interference himself, but there’s still the incident with Forte bulldozing his way to the outside at the top of the lane.

The $1.25 million Grade 1 Travers Stakes at Saratoga is the next big race for 3-year-old colts. Currently fans can anticipate a match-up between Forte and all three Triple Crown winners, as well as several other big names in the division. With the Jim Dandy now in the books, here’s a look at the current Top Ten 3-Year-Olds.

1. Forte—The reigning Champion 2-Year-Old Colt retained his form over the winter and then some. He returned with gusto, taking both the Fountain of Youth (G2) and the Florida Derby (G1) over eventual Kentucky Derby (G1) winner Mage. A bruised hoof prevented him from running in the first two legs of the Triple Crown, but he was a courageous 2^nd in the 1 ½-mile Belmont (G1) off a ten-week layoff. His win today will be marred by the question of whether he should have been disqualified, but the heart he showed in getting his nose down first just cements what we’ve known all year long: Forte is #1 in the 3-Year-Old division.
2. Mage—One of several phenomenal runners from Good Magic’s first crop, Mage did not debut until January of this year. After winning his debut, trainer Gustavo Delgado immediately set his colt on the Road to the Kentucky Derby. While his talent was certainly clear in Florida, Mage could not best Forte in the Fountain of Youth (4^th) or the Florida Derby (2^nd). With his arch nemesis out of the picture, Mage proved best on the first Saturday of May. He headed to Baltimore to pursue the Crown but instead ran an even 3^rd in the Preakness (G1). He was most recently 2^nd in the Haskell (G1) to Geaux Rocket Ride. His Achilles heel has been his inability to close into soft fractions, but he’s never been out of the trifecta in top company. Mage will try to finally best Forte in the Travers for his next start.
3. Arcangelo—By the late, great Arrogate, Arcangelo will carry a three-race win streak into the Travers (G1). It took him three tries to break his maiden, but after getting the proverbial monkey off his back, he took to graded stakes races like a duck to water. He was a determined winner in the Peter Pan (G3), the local prep for the Belmont, holding off favored Bishops Bay by a head. Tacking on an additional 3 furlongs was no problem as he easily won the Belmont four weeks later, beating Preakness winner National Treasure and the layoff compromised Forte. If he wins the Travers over the field anticipated, it’ll vault him to the top of the division.
4. Angel of Empire—Risen Star (G2) and Arkansas Derby (G1) winner Angel of Empire became the Kentucky Derby favorite after the late scratch of 2-Year-Old Champion Forte. He put in his patented late run under the Twin Spires, but Mage had had the jump on him. Angel of Empire was gaining ground at the wire, though, and only missed the win by 1 ½-lengths. Brad Cox changed tactics with the Classic Empire colt in the Belmont and had him stick closer to the pace. That resulted in him running a very even race, going gate-to-wire in fourth, and finishing in a dead heat for the position with Hit Show. He ran huge in defeat in the slop in today’s Jim Dandy. I doubt he was cost a placing in the stretch, but overall, just another excellent race from this colt. Like the trio above him, we’ll likely see him next in the Travers.
5. Geaux Rocket Ride—By Candy Ride, Geaux Rocket Ride is one Practical Move away from perfection (See what I did there?). While he was no match for the West Coast’s top Kentucky Derby prospect in just his second career start, Geaux Rocket Ride came back three months later to beat a short field in the Affirmed. Something about his performance and works prompted Richard Mandella to ship him cross-country as his first Haskell (G1) starter in 23 years. The move paid dividends as Geaux Rocket Ride beat a solid field that included Kentucky Derby winner Mage and the highly touted Arabian Knight. Geaux Rocket Ride will likely make his next start in the Pacific Classic (G1) against his elders.
6. Practical Move—Santa Anita Derby (G1) winner Practical Move is on the move again. Trainer Tim Yakteen recently announced that the son of Practical Joke has resumed training at Del Mar, though no target races have been specified. Never out of the trifecta in seven career starts, Practical Move notched wins in the San Felipe (G2) and the Santa Anita Derby and headed to Kentucky as one of the favorites for the Run for the Roses. Unfortunately, he was one of several Derby scratches and his lack of races since April prevents him from being higher up on the list.
7. Tapit Trice—Depending on whom you talk to, Tapit Trice is either a check casher or a money burner. The Tampa Bay Derby (G3) and Blue Grass (G1) winner was a lot of people’s early Belmont selection due in large part to a huge, lumbering stride that results in him taking time to build up a full head of steam. While he didn’t win the Belmont, his 3^rd place finish there is his best result in his last three races and comes sandwiched between a 7^th in the Kentucky Derby and a 5^th in the Haskell. The Travers is up next for this son of Tapit.
8. Arabian Knight—Arabian Knight took a lot of money in the Haskell for a colt that had not raced in six months nor faced a quality field. I must give credit where credit is due, however, as he ran a solid 3^rd off the layoff. Some will be quick to say that the Uncle Mo colt is overrated, but I’m willing to wait and see what he does next as he continues to shake the rust off. With stablemate Reincarnate slated to make the trip east for the Travers, it’s likely Arabian Knight makes his next start on the West Coast.
9. Scotland—Another son of Good Magic, Scotland is a nose shy of perfection in 4 career starts. So far, his sole claim to fame is as the winner of the Curlin Stakes at Saratoga, where he beat grade one winner and Preakness runner-up Blazing Sevens. The lightly raced gelding appears to have a ton of upside off that easy win and will try stiffer competition in the Travers.
10. National Treasure—A son of Quality Road, National Treasure makes the cut almost solely on the laurels of being the Preakness winner. Prior to that, he always seemed to be just a cut below. He was never the star of the Bob Baffert stable, losing the top spots in West Coast graded stakes to stablemates while still cashing checks. He got things all his own way in Baltimore, however, and no one could run down the loose-on-the-lead colt, though Blazing Sevens got within a head. He attempted to take the third leg of the Triple Crown in that same gate-to-wire fashion but was swallowed up in the stretch and finished 6^th. He’ll be in extremely deep waters in the Travers, and I’m just not sure he can run with the best in the division.

Honorable mention goes to Saudi Crown who ran his heart out only to have to settle for second by a nose for the second straight race. Prior to losing the photo to Forte today, he lost a similarly heartbreaking decision to Fort Bragg in the Dwyer (G3). He had an unpressured lead today, but whether the slop, the added distance, or the bumping in the stretch got the best of him is up for debate. The Jim Dandy was just the fourth career start for the Always Dreaming colt, and he looks to be one to watch going forward. 

Check out our fastest three-year olds by The Thorograph Numbers and Patterns, a few weeks back, how are we doin?