Jim Dandy Stakes Handicapping Picks
Horse racing gamblers are you looking for 2023 Jim Dandy Stakes Free Pick & Handicapping Odds…plus some predictions? Need some advice on who to take? The 2023 Jim Dandy is set for July 29 at Saratoga race track in Saratoga Springs, New York. Here’s a preview of our top contenders.
Jim Dandy Stakes Preview
- Race: Jim Dandy Stakes
- Purse: $500,000
- Track: Saratoga Race Course
- Date: July 29
- Post Time: 5:45 PM (ET)
- Live: Jim Dandy Stakes Odds: Click Here
2023 Jim Dandy Stakes Racebooks / Betting Apps We Like!
Before we can give you our expert 2023 Jim Dandy Stakes free pick, we have to break down the entries! In fact, we’d love to hear from you after you’ve given this post a read to see if you see an angle that we don’t!
2023 Jim Dandy Stakes Handicapping
The summer race meet at Saratoga race track is well underway, and with it comes a long list of graded-stakes races on both dirt and turf. This weekend’s cards will feature both of those, including Saturday’s (G2) Jim Dandy Stakes for horses age three, going 1 1/8 miles on the dirt track.
The race has drawn a small but mighty field of five runners, four of which made an appearance at some point this past spring in the Triple Crown trail. It’s most likely one or two of these will be moving on from this race to the $1.25 million (G1) Travers Stakes to be run at Saratoga on August 26.
Odds listed here are provided by the Saratoga track oddsmaker.
2023 Jim Dandy Stakes Free Pick & Handicapping: Forte Race Odds: 7-5
It has been an up-and-down season for the connections of Forte, after wins in the (G2) Fountain Of Youth and (G1) Florida Derby stamped him as the favourite to win the Kentucky Derby.
That was not to be, as a hoof problem caused him to be scratched from that race and to also miss the Preakness Stakes. He finally made a Triple Crown field when he ran second in the Belmont Stakes, a solid effort for the gruelling 1 1/2 miles given the fact he had not raced for 10 weeks at that point.
Forte is the deserving favourite here again, and returns to the track where he won the 2022 (G1) Hopeful Stakes en route to being named champion Juvenile last year.
Trainer Todd Pletcher holds the record with six previous Jim Dandy wins, the last of those coming in 2013. Jockey Irad Ortiz Jr. rode the winner in 2019.
2023 Jim Dandy Stakes Free Pick & Handicapping: Angel Of Empire Race Odds: 5-2
With the scratch of Forte from the Derby, Angel Of Empire emerged as the post-time favourite for the Run for the Roses and while he didn’t win, he came from way back in the pack to surge through the stretch and get up for third, just 1 1/2 lengths back of the winner.
He was a bit of a disappointment in the Belmont where he broke from the gate in fourth place, two lengths off the leader, and finished the race in fourth place, 2 1/2 lengths back of the winner.
Expect him to be coming from off the pace once again as he tries to get back to the form that saw him win the (G1) Arkansas Derby back in April.
Trainer Brad Cox has three entries in the race and won’t all in 2021. Flavien Prat gets the call to ride.
Saudi Crown Race Odds: 5-2
As the only horse in the race that didn’t try a Triple Crown event, Saudi Crown comes in after running second by a nose in the (G3) Dwyer Stakes after leading out of the gate to the top of the stretch.
On paper he’s the obvious speed in the race and will most likely be going to the front out of the gate and try to steal it on the front end. The concern for him is that not only will he be facing the strongest field so far in his career, he will also be trying to race beyond a mile for the first time.
He’s also trained by Brad Cox, while Florent Geroux will be in the saddle.
Disarm Race Odds: 6-1
One that looks to be in a steady path of improvement, Disarm has been improving his speed figures with every race out, and comes into this off a win in the (G3) Matt Winn Stakes at this same 1 1/8 mile distance.
It could be significant that he second-place finisher in that race next came back to win the (G3) Indiana Derby, albeit against not a particularly strong field.
Through seven lifetime races he has only failed to hit the board once, running fourth in the Kentucky Derby.
Steve Asmussen and Joel Rosario were the winning trainer/jockey combination in last year’s Jim Dandy.
Here’s My 2023 Jim Dandy Stakes Free Pick.
While acknowledging that Saratoga has a well-earned reputation as the graveyard of favourites, it’s difficult not to conclude that this is Forte’s race to lose. He’s getting a cutback to what is probably his very best distance on a track where he has a previous win.
He’s also making his second start after the long layoff between the Florida Derby and the Belmont, and if he was in good racing shape to get the runner-up money there, he should be even more fit for racing on Saturday. He’s the win pick.
There is a scenario where Saudi Crown gets loose on the lead here and takes them wire-to-wire, but with the step up in class and distance questions I’m not willing to bet in it. I was one of those who made the move to Angel Of Empire when Forte scratched out if the Derby, but I’m starting to wonder if the Arkansas Derby win was a one-off.
Nevertheless, I’ll give him one more chance and use him in the exacta.
Full Field: 2023 Jim Dandy Stakes Odds
By post position
- #1 – Disarm 6-1
- #2 – Forte 7-5
- #3 – Hit Show 6-1
- #4 – Saudi Crown 5-2
- #5 – Angel Of Empire 5-2
Jim Dandy Stakes Tweet of the Day
· Forte adds blinkers for final G2 Jim Dandy tune up
· Hit Show, Angel of Empire breeze in company for G2 Jim Dandy
· Appleby trainees Rebel’s Romance and Mysterious Night arrive for Spa turf stakes
…& more! ⤵️https://t.co/Hl7yVXmuU1— NYRA (🎪) (@TheNYRA) July 22, 2023
Register here for a FREE Sports Betting Account Now for Daily Free Picks & More Special Offers! Please Follow our LINKTR.EE.
OUR Top 3 Racebooks are — MYBookie — Bovada — BetOnline