by Mark Patterson
We debut a new column today. “Patterson’s Perspective” is written by Mark Patterson who brings his knowledge and insight gained after 30+ years in the racing industry at Mountaineer Racetrack, most recently as the popular host of the simulcast show.
- Further solidifying his spot atop a three-year old division that has this season provided thoroughbred racing a resurgent jolt of popularity, Godolphin LLC’s Sovereignty, as expected, annexed Saturday’s (G2) Jim Dandy at historic Saratoga Race Course in bucolic upstate New York.
- A 55% top share of the $500,000 nine-furlong stakes pushed the Kentucky Derby winner’s career bankroll above $5 million as larger potential paydays and of greater consequence loom ahead. Heavily favored versus just four ostensibly outclassed rivals, the William Mott trained winner, assuaging mild concerns that his patented late-run might be muted by a predictably slow tempo in an event devoid of early-speed, advanced briskly from the rear of a closely bunched field to challenge three-wide for home and inch methodically clear under regular rider Jr. Alvarado. The final margin was about one-length over second finisher Baeza, who went second -favored to complete a popular exacta. Sovereignty paid just $3.00 to win. Stamping the winning performance as workmanlike but perhaps lacking sizzle, a 1:49.52 final time paled in comparison to the 146 3/5 course record. The surface was rated “fast.”The Jim Dandy serves as time-honored prep for the richer, more vaunted (G1)Travers ($1 million), to be run Aug 23 at the same venue, and derives its catchy titlefrom a namesake colt whose Hail-Mary upset of the 1930 Travers helped envelope Saratoga in a legendary mystique.With Sovereignty pledged by connections to compete, this year’s Travers, romantically dubbed the “Midsummer Derby,” could result in another matchvs the popular Journalism, whose crowd-pleasing flair for the dramatic was on full display in mounting a desperate rally to eke out last Saturday’s lucrative (G1) Haskell at Monmouth Park(in New Jersey).
- The Jim Dandy winner has twice taken that foe’s measure in their two common outings. In Sovereignty’s absence, Journalism also scored this year’s (G1) Preakness. The regally bred Jim Dandy winner, a son of preeminent sire Into Mischief, has been kept to a carefully mapped agenda with future syndication for perhaps upwards of$20 million as the ultimate goal.
