Study Guide: 2025 Jim Dandy Stakes

Jul 24, 2025 J. Keeler Johnson/TwinSpires.com

Sovereignty winning the Kentucky Derby (G1) at Churchill Downs (Photo by Horsephotos.com)

A small but stellar field has turned out for Saturday’s $500,000 Jim Dandy (G2) at Saratoga.

Kentucky Derby (G1) winner Sovereignty leads a group of five horses entered in the 1 1/8-mile race. He’s joined in the entries by fellow Kentucky Derby alumni Baeza and Sandman.

Let’s meet the field:

Baeza

c

Start(s): 6
Wins: 1
Place: 2
Show: 2

Owner: C R K Stable and Grandview Equine
Breeder: Grandview Equine
Trainer: John Shirreffs
Jockey: Hector Berrios

Top Speed Rating: (107) when finishing second in the Santa Anita Derby (G1) at Santa Anita.
Total Earnings: $848,500

Sire: McKinzie
Dam: Puca
Color: Bay

Baeza performed admirably at a high level during the spring, recording top-three finishes in the Kentucky Derby (G1), Belmont (G1), and Santa Anita Derby (G1). A series of fast workouts since the beginning of summer suggests Baeza may be capable of stepping forward and turning the tables on Kentucky Derby and Belmont winner Sovereignty.

Sovereignty wins the 157th Belmont Stakes

Jockey: @JuniorandKellyA
Trainer: Bill Mott
Owner: @godolphin pic.twitter.com/IfDB6cXRud

— TwinSpires Racing 🏇 (@TwinSpires) June 7, 2025

Sandman

Start(s): 10
Wins: 3
Place: 1
Show: 3

Owner: D. J. Stable, St. Elias Stable, West Point Thoroughbreds, and CJ Stables
Breeder: Lothenbach Stables
Trainer: Mark Casse
Jockey: Jose Ortiz

Top Speed Rating: (104) when finishing third in the Preakness (G1) at Pimlico.
Total Earnings: $1,474,595

Sire: Tapit
Dam: Distorted Music
Color: Gray/roan

Arkansas Derby (G1) winner Sandman was no match for Sovereignty in the Kentucky Derby, finishing seventh. But he may have struggled over the sloppy track at Churchill Downs. He bounced back with a solid third-place finish in the Preakness (G1) and has a good chance to record another top-three finish in the Jim Dandy.

Mo Plex

Mo Plex winning the Sanford (G3) at Saratoga (Photo by Susie Raisher/Coglianese Photos)

Start(s): 8
Wins: 5
Place: 1
Show: 2

Owner: R and H Stable
Breeder: Everything’s Cricket Racing
Trainer: Jeremiah Englehart
Jockey: Manny Franco

Top Speed Rating: (97) when winning the Ohio Derby (G3) at Thistledown.
Total Earnings: $745,000

Sire: Complexity
Dam: Mo Joy
Color: Bay

Four-time stakes winner Mo Plex enters the Jim Dandy in hot form, having won last month’s Ohio Derby (G3) by two lengths over Kentucky Derby starter Chunk of Gold. However, Mo Plex’s best Brisnet Speed ratings look a bit light compared to the rest of the Jim Dandy entrants.

Hill Road

Hill Road works our ahead of Breeders' Cup races. (Photo by Horsephtos.com)

Start(s): 6
Wins: 2
Place: 0
Show: 2

Owner: Amo Racing USA
Breeder: Lynch Bages and Camas Park Stud
Trainer: Chad Brown
Jockey: Irad Ortiz Jr.

Top Speed Rating: (101) when finishing third in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile (G1) at Del Mar.
Total Earnings: $396,606

Sire: Quality Road
Dam: Exotic Notion
Color: Bay

Deep-closing Hill Road has shown flashes of talent, most notably rallying to win the Peter Pan (G3). However, he finished behind Sovereignty and Baeza when fifth in the Belmont and will need improvement to turn the tables.

Sovereignty

Sovereignty turned the Kentucky Derby-Belmont double (Photo by Coglianese Photos)

Start(s): 7
Wins: 4
Place: 2
Show: 0

Owner: Godolphin
Breeder: Godolphin
Trainer: Bill Mott
Jockey: Junior Alvarado

Top Speed Rating: (111) when winning the Belmont (G1) at Saratoga.
Total Earnings: $4,872,800

Sire: Into Mischief
Dam: Crowned
Color: Bay

Sovereignty enjoyed a tremendous spring campaign, winning both the Kentucky Derby and Belmont over three-time Grade 1 winner Journalism. He’ll be tough to beat if he brings his A game to the Jim Dandy, though it’s worth noting this is a prep for next month’s Travers (G1), and it’s possible Sovereignty will be short of his absolute best. Remember, he lost the Florida Derby (G1) when prepping toward a peak performance in the Kentucky Derby.