The Dandy – G2

$500.00 For Three Year Olds
1 1/8 Miles – Dirt
Saratoga Race Course – August 1, 2026

While it wasn’t quite the epic upset of the race’s namesake the 2026 edition of The Dandy did give us somewhat of a surprise if you consider fourth choice an upset. Decima Tech ultimately prevailed in the stretch winning at odds of nearly 7-1 besting the public’s choice of Silver Hurricane. As someone who likes tradition and lore I’ll take it. 

If you look at the race from a different angle it was a huge upset as Decima Tech’s win over Silver Hurricane broke a seven year winning streak in The Dandy by Mb Stables. That incredible feat was achieved as follows: 2019 Unfold, 2020 Groovy, 2021 Proud Crown, 2022 Individuation, 2023 Wahpekute Sioux, 2024 Walk Em Down, 2025 Obi Wan. Quite an incredible achievement that warrants mention and I failed to do so in my preview. Congrats to Mb for an amazing streak. 

Winner: Decima Tech (The Sidley Stud/M. Franco) Techfulence Heat/Appealing Decima (American Decima) Taken back to last although never too far back in a relatively small and compact field. Began to pick it up halfway down the backstretch and by midway on the final turn he had established himself as the main threat to Silver Hurricane who hit the top of the stretch on top. He was rallying best of all in the stretch and looked like the winner with a furlong to go. Put his head in front a sixteenth of a mile from the wire and drew off to win by a length. 

Second: Silver Hurricane (Mb Stables/R.M. Hernandez) Take The South Fork/Anarchista (Bronx Bomber) Looked like he was going to settle and stalk when the field was seeking position off of the break but then was taken up to challenge the early leaders making it three pacesetters most of the way down the backstretch. Began to draw away from his early company (Lesnar and Izzys Brindle) and was the leader entering the homestretch. Dug in and tried to hold his edge to the wire but could not hold off the determined charge of the winner. Clear second best. 

Third: Resurgent (D J C Racing Stables/E.J. Wilson) Lea/Arrest That Girl (Arrest) Sat the perfect stalking trip behind the three leaders down the backstretch. Was placed perfectly coming into the stretch to make a run at the leader but could not take advantage to mount an extended rally but did manage to catch early leader Lesnar for the show spot. 

Fourth: Lesnar (Royalty Stables/L. Saez) Valvano/Becky Lynch (Graveyard) Izzys Brindle grabbed the lead out of the gate and tried to establish a lead from his outside post but was quickly joined by Lesnar and then by Silver Hurricane. Izzys Brindle was the first to begin to give way and Lesnar carried on trying to stay with Silver Hurricane but yielded to that one on the final turn. Battled to the wire and bested Izzys Brindle by a neck for the final check. 

Preview Pick: Decima Tech – upset (sort of) winner.

In contrast to Mb Stables winning this race seven straight years and eight times overall (add Steel Ball 2010) this was the first win in The Dandy for The Sidley Stud and jockey M. Franco. This was the second graded stakes win for Decima Tech having won the G3 Peter Pan two starts back. The Sidley Stud homebred gelding has now won four of his ten races and has banked $567.60. He continues to show improving form and you have to think we will see him in the Travers later in the meet and we look forward to seeing if he can challenge the leaders of his class who will surely show up. 

Categories: Grade II, STAKES ARTICLES