War of Will, Tacitus headline talented field entered in Jim Dandy at Saratoga

Jul 24, 2019 Vance Hanson/Brisnet.com

Preakness (G1) winner War of Will and multiple classic-placed Tacitus are among the six three-year-old colts and geldings vying in Saturday's $600,000 Jim Dandy (G2) at Saratoga, a prelude for next month's 10-furlong Travers (G1) over the same track.

War of Will, the only horse to compete in all three Triple Crown races this spring, seeks out to out-finish Tacitus for the first time in the nine-furlong test. Unplaced in the Kentucky Derby (G1) after being bumped by disqualified winner Maximum Security around the far turn, War of Will rebounded at Pimlico two weeks later but then ran ninth in a field of 10 in the 1 1/2-mile Belmont Stakes (G1).

'He's good and he's ready,' trainer Mark Casse said. 'The best way to describe it is that he's in a good place. We're happy. A lot of times, a trainer will say, 'I wish I could have done this or that.' That's not the case here. I'm happy with him. It's up to him now.'

Tacitus, who captured the Tampa Bay Derby (G2) and Wood Memorial (G2) prior to his elevation to third at Churchill Downs, skipped the Preakness and then finished a clear second in the Belmont.

'He's good going nine-to-10 furlongs,' tainer Bill Mott said. 'It looked like he could be good up to a mile and a half, but he can still be effective at a mile an eighth.'

Other Triple Crown race veterans in the field include Tax, 14th in the Kentucky Derby and fourth in the Belmont after winning the Withers (G3) and placing second in the Wood Memorial. Laughing Fox, meanwhile, captured the inaugural $300,000 Oaklawn Invitational in May and then was a late-rallying fifth in the Preakness two weeks later.

Global Campaign is a horse to fear with three wins from four starts, including a score in the May 11 Peter Pan (G3) over subsequent Belmont winner Sir Winston. Completing the field is Mihos, unplaced twice since defeating Code of Honor in the $100,000 Mucho Macho Man on January 5.