Winning the Jim Dandy Stakes at Saratoga Race Course is often seen as a key prep for the Travers Stakes, but historically, winning both in the same year is not very common

 

Written by AI, edited by Saratoga Report publisher Dan De Federicis

Key Points:

• Since 1964, when the Jim Dandy became a regular prep race for the Travers, only 12 horses have won both races in the same year (as of 2024).

• Recent examples of horses who swept both:

  • Essential Quality (2021)

  • Alpha (2012)* (dead heat in Travers with Golden Ticket)

  • Street Sense (2007)

  • Bernardini (2006)

• Many Jim Dandy winners have run well in the Travers without winning, finishing in the money (top 3), but a win in the Jim Dandy does not guarantee victory in the Travers.

Why It’s Hard to Sweep Both:

• The Travers field is often deeper and more competitive.

• The spacing between the races (about four weeks) means some horses peak in one race but regress in the other.

• Some top contenders skip the Jim Dandy to stay fresh for the Travers, such as Derby or Belmont winners.

Conclusion:

Winning the Jim Dandy can be a strong indicator of form, but sweeping both races is the exception, not the rule. It happens roughly once per decade.

For more, read the Times Union Story here