The Runners-Up to Golden Tempo Prepare for Revenge in Saratoga’s Jim Dandy

Renegade (pictured), Commandment, and Chip Honcho headline the list of potential contenders for Saratoga's traditional stakes feature, while Emerging Market and Chief Wallabee have also mapped out their next steps toward the major objectives of the summer season

SARATOGA SPRINGS, New York (Special to Turf Diario).- Although Golden Tempo (Curlin), this year's brilliant winner of the G1 Kentucky Derby and the G1 Belmont Stakes, will bypass the engagement, the August 1 Jim Dandy Stakes (G2) at Saratoga is assembling a stellar cast of the season's top sophomore talent. Several key protagonists from the Triple Corona trail are firmly on course for this traditional stepping stone to the G1 Travers Stakes.

The early headlines belong to Renegade (Into Mischief), who chased the dual classic winner home when finishing second in the Kentucky Derby and third in the Belmont Stakes. Conditioned by Todd Pletcher, the colt returned to the worktab on Sunday, breezing 800 meters in :50.50 in his first timed move since the final leg of the classics.

"He actually came out of the Belmont better than he did the Derby," Pletcher explained. "We gave him a little extra time before bringing him back to the track, and the plan is to get five works into him before the Jim Dandy."

Also reappearing on the morning worktab was Belmont Stakes runner-up Commandment (Into Mischief). The Brad Cox trainee stopped the clock in :48.80 for 800 meters at Churchill Downs, with connections firmly holding to their plan of shipping to Saratoga during the week of the race in pursuit of another graded stakes victory.

Adding further depth to the lineup is Chip Honcho, a recent winner of the G3 Ohio Derby who validated his current upward trajectory after previously finishing a commendable third in the G1 Preakness Stakes. Hall of Fame trainer Steve Asmussen confirmed that the son of Connect is already stabled at Saratoga and that the Jim Dandy will serve as his immediate target.

Meanwhile, G2 Louisiana Derby hero Emerging Market (Candy Ride {Arg}) continues to reset after enduring a frustrating classic campaign. The colt was plagued by bad luck in both the Kentucky Derby and the Belmont Stakes, throwing a shoe in each performance. Now training in glue-on shoes, trainer Chad Brown is weighing whether to head straight into the Jim Dandy or opt for an easier allowance spot, potentially against older horses.

"I haven't lost any faith in him, but I need to take a step back and map out the best blueprint to get him to the Travers, because I still firmly believe he belongs in a race like that," Brown noted.

Conversely, a different path is being mapped out for Chief Wallabee, who checked in a solid fourth in both the Kentucky Derby and the Belmont Stakes. Hall of Fame trainer Bill Mott indicated that the July 29 Curlin Stakes (L), also hosted at Saratoga, looms as the most logical objective for the son of Constitution before deciding on a summer target.