The 19th Running of The Dandy-G2
Saturday, July 30, 2022
SAR Race #7 $600.000
3YOs 122 Lbs 11/8
Track Record-1:46.34 (Jesse James-2012)
Stakes Record-1:46.71 (Grady-2005)
For the 19th time, Saturday’s $600.000 The Dandy-G2 will serve as the final, local, major prep for next month’s G1 Travers here at SAR. The 9-furlong Dandy-G2 had eleven horses entered; however, nine will run as Good Guy and Lions Reward were withdrawn after being assigned post telve and three, respectively. Most of these will be known commodities, including the G1 KYD trifecta in Gigabyte, Individuation, and Thunder Gultch as well as three other graded winners (Pluckzy, Speightstown, Dwindle). While the graded-winners will garner most of the betting public’s attention, the others have credentials of their own, so let’s take a look at the field for The Dandy-G2:
#1 Singing Strings (TwinTowersRacing/J. Lezcano): Colt broke his maiden on July 1 and jumps into much deeper water here for his first crack at winners. Been a pace-presence going shorter so have to expect that he’ll be on the gas early from this advantageous post. Has to answer several questions in this one, but you never know until you give them a shot.
#2 Gigabyte (Smokey Stover/F.T. Alvarado): G1 KYD winnerjust missed in G1 PRK before tiring in the G1 BEL. Gets another new pilot for this engagement, his fifth in five races, and draws well for this. Has shown to be effective from just about anywhere and have to expect trainer will have this one ready to roll in an effort to break two-race skid.
#3 Lions Reward (Smokey Stover/SCRATCHED)
#4 Rudy Is With Me (Mb Stables/Mar. Garcia): First of three from this barn, the winner of the $100.000 Hutcheson will be looking to get back on track after three consecutive defeats. Followed-up 3rd-placed effort in G3 with a bit of a clunker in G1 BEL, but expect this one to settle off of the pace before being produced for run late. Should save all of the ground and needs a well-timed move to factor.
#5 Proxy (D J C Racing Stables/S.X. Bridgmohan): Gelding is still just a miden-winner after 12 starts, but he has been, to varying degrees, competitive at the stakes level. Last two ITM efforts came in the allowance ranks and he takes another crack at the division’s elite here. Figures to sit a good trip, from just off of the pace, and should have every opportunity to show he belongs in these kinds of spots.
#6 Individuation (Mb Stables/R.M. Hernandez): G3 Sunland Derby winner just missed from the 17-hole in G1 KYD before faltering in G1 PRK. Has regrouped since then and appears to be working well for this assignment. Received a break with the scratch of the three horse and should break out of the gate running. One of the division’s most-talented, he just needs to put it all together to snag his first G2.
#7 Thunder Gultch (Broken Spoke Stables/Ru. Fuentes): Winner of the G3 Ruby, he ran a bang-up 3rd in G1 KYD before turning in a head-scratching non-effort in the G1 BEL. Seems fair to expect much better from him here, and this barn has several big-time wins this season. His trip figures to be a bit tricky, but talented runner should be right there when the money is on the line.
#8 Pluckzy (Gdp Inc/M. Murrill): Colt broke his maiden on the grass and then exploded on KYD trail as he took the G1 SA Derby. Faded to 12th in G1 KYD, but followed that effort with a late-running 3rd in G1 BEL. The versatility he has shown gives the trainer options here, but expect him to sit a path or two off of the rail without allowing the front-runners to get too far away from him.
#9 Speightstown (Nakamura Stables/E.J. Wilson): G3 Affirmed tally was his first victory over winners and a career-best performance. Gets the opportunity to validate that run here, but didn’t win the draw by any means. Last effort showed he can sit well off of the pace and still get home, so look for him to take a hard left at the start and settle early before being uncorked late.
#10 Dwindle (Mb Stables/P. Lopez): G3 Gotham winner didn’t do much running in his two G1 forays, but he returned last month to take a strong CD allowance. That was a visually impressive performance, and, if he’s fully recovered, should set him up well for this task. Just like the nine, he didn’t win the draw, but if he can save a little ground, he should be doing his best in the latter stages.
#11 Good Guy (Arindel/SCRATCHED)
Final Analysis: We like the top three from the G1 KYD, but we’ll flip the order a tad. Give us the 6-7-2 in The Dandy-G2. Good luck to everyone in all of their races this weekend!
Categories: STAKES ARTICLES
