
Big-Race Showdown: Kentucky Derby Championship Series Visits Fair Grounds, Turfway
The Jim Dandy Stakes is a main attraction at Saratoga this Saturday, one of four graded stakes on the day at the track. The race is historic on its own, but it is best known as the final local prep race for next month’s marquee Travers Stakes.
Get the scoop on the Jim Dandy by the numbers below.
0- The number of career wins last year’s victor, Laoban, had prior to the race.
1 1/8 miles- The distance of the race.
1:47.26- The fastest time the race has been completed in, by Louis Quatorze in 1996.
2- The number of classic winners expected for this year's race. Both Kentucky Derby winner Always Dreaming and Preakness victor Cloud Computing are slated to compete on Saturday.
3- All horses that run in the Jim Dandy must be 3 years old.
3- The number of times a horse has been disqualified from a runner-up finish in the race. Never has the winner been disqualified.
4- The number of victories in the race by Hall of Fame jockey John Velazquez, tied for the record.
6- Record number of victories in the race by trainer Todd Pletcher.
7- The number of times the betting favorite has lost in the last 10 runnings.
13 ¾ lengths- The biggest margin of victory ever in the race, accomplished by Medaglia d’Oro in 2002.
27-1- The highest-priced winner in the last 10 years, occurring when Laoban won last year. Only one other winner was longer odds than 4-1.
54th- This year is the 54th edition of the Jim Dandy, first run in 1964.
1995- The last time a horse whose name started with the letter C won the race, though seven have won overall, making it the most popular winning initial.
$18,625- The win value of the inaugural Jim Dandy Stakes in 1964.
$600,000- Purse of this year’s race.
$29,780,886- Total amount bet on Jim Dandy day 2016.