‘All Roads Lead To Saratoga’: Baeza To Start In Jim Dandy originally appeared on Paulick Report.
Though trainer John Shirreffs was slightly disappointed by Baeza’s third-place effort in the Belmont Stakes, he hasn’t lost faith in the son of McKinzie. Shirreffs told the Thoroughbred Daily News this week that Baeza will head back to Saratoga for the Grade 2 Jim Dandy Stakes on July 26.
“It seems like all roads lead to Saratoga,” Shirreffs told TDN. “I think he is as good as any 3-year-old in the country.
“I just want him to prove it.”
Shirreffs isn’t sure who will ride Baeza in the Jim Dandy; Flavien Prat will stay in California to ride Nysos if he is entered in the G2 San Diego on the same date.
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Baeza, the half-brother to 2023 Kentucky Derby winner Mage and 2024 Belmont Stakes winner Dornoch, has worked twice since returning to Southern California after the Belmont Stakes. His most recent breeze was a bullet half-mile in a flashy 46.40 seconds last Friday.
Baeza graduated at third asking in a one-mile maiden special weight on Feb. 14 at Santa Anita. He followed with a three-quarter-length second on April 5 in the nine-furlong Santa Anita Derby (G1), which was won by eventual Preakness Stakes-winner Journalism.
The colt ran a good third in the Run for the Roses, beaten 1 3/4 lengths by Sovereignty, but Baeza was 6 1/2 lengths askance of that rival in the Belmont Stakes five weeks later.
“We were expecting him to run more like he did in the Kentucky Derby and maybe do a little bit better [in the Belmont],” Shirreffs said. “I really don’t know what led to that.”
Trainer Bill Mott has also indicated that Sovereignty could start in the Jim Dandy Stakes, potentially setting up an exciting rematch.
Read more at the Thoroughbred Daily News.
This story was originally reported by Paulick Report on Jul 2, 2025, where it first appeared.