The outcome of Saturday’s $500,000 Jim Dandy Stakes Presented by Mohegan Sun at Saratoga may be determined by the early pace. The 1 1/8-mile race for 3-year-old Thoroughbreds has drawn only five horses, and four have shown little to no interest in racing on the lead.
#3 Renegade is a strong candidate to be the favorite. During the spring, he won the Grade 1 Arkansas Derby by four lengths, after which he finished second in the Grade 1 Kentucky Derby Presented by Woodford Reserve and third in the Grade 1 Belmont Stakes Presented by NYRA Bets. But Renegade is a late runner who almost always races in the back half of the field in the early stages.
#5 Commandment, winner of the Grade 1 Curlin Florida Derby presented by Hill 'n' Dale Farms at Xalapa, is another logical contender. After finishing a somewhat troubled seventh in the Kentucky Derby, he bounced back to run second in the Belmont Stakes. He has not raced within three lengths of the early lead in any of his last five starts.
#4 Silent Tactic has been rested since finishing second to Renegade in the Arkansas Derby. But he’s yet another who routinely rallies from midfield or even farther behind.
#2 Asked and Answered will be a longshot in the Jim Dandy since he’s yet to win a race. He’s shown early speed only once in six starts and usually closes from behind.
This leaves #1 Chip Honcho as the only obvious front-runner in the Jim Dandy field. While Chip Honcho doesn’t always race up front — he recently won the Grade 3 Ohio Derby with a rally from fourth place — two of his stronger efforts have come when setting the pace. He led all the way to win a maiden special weight, and he set the pace in the Grade 2 Fasig-Tipton Risen Star Stakes before coming up half a length short of undefeated Paladin. Future Kentucky Derby and Belmont Stakes winner Golden Tempo finished another 5 1/2 lengths back in third place.
Chip Honcho arrives at Saratoga in strong form. Prior to the Ohio Derby, he finished third in the Preakness Stakes. If he shakes loose on an uncontested lead in the Jim Dandy, he may prove difficult to catch. We recommend betting Chip Honcho to win and playing him on top of a superfecta, which requires selecting the top four finishers in order. Underneath Chip Honcho, use Renegade, Commandment, and Silent Tactic in that order.
Wagering Strategy on a $10 Budget
$8 to win on #1 Chip Honcho
What to say at the betting window: Saratoga, 10th race, $8 to win on 1
$2 superfecta: 1 with 3 with 5 with 4
What to say at the betting window: Saratoga, 10th race, $2 superfecta 1 with 3 with 5 with 4
Wagering Strategy on a $30 Budget
$24 to win on #1 Chip Honcho
What to say at the betting window: Saratoga, 10th race, $24 to win on 1
$6 superfecta: 1 with 3 with 5 with 4
What to say at the betting window: Saratoga, 10th race, $6 superfecta 1 with 3 with 5 with 4
Good luck, and enjoy the race!
