‘Training Super’: Sandman Tunes Up For Jim Dandy originally appeared on Paulick Report.

Trainer Mark Casse had two of his barn stars work over the Saratoga main track on Saturday, including Sandman, who NYRA clockers caught solo in :59 and 2/5 for five fulrongs and out in 1:13 as he prepares for a start in the $500,000 Jim Dandy (G2) on July 26; and La Cara, who NYRA clockers timed traveling a half-mile in a swift 46 seconds, breezing for the $500,000 Coaching Club American Oaks (G1) on July 19.

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D.J. Stable, St. Elias Stable, West Point Thoroughbreds and CJ Stables’ Sandman captured the Grade 1 Arkansas Derby in March at Oaklawn Park before closing from 18th-of-19 to finish seventh in the Grade 1 Kentucky Derby in May at Churchill Downs. He followed with a third-place finish in the Grade 1 Preakness in May at Pimlico Race Course and shipped to New York for a brief stay at Belmont Park before heading upstate to Saratoga where he has now worked three times over the main track.

Jose Ortiz, aboard for the Arkansas Derby and Kentucky Derby efforts, will return to the saddle in the Jim Dandy. Hall of Famer John Velazquez piloted Sandman in the Preakness as Ortiz committed to Clever Again after Casse had initially decided not to run Sandman in the Preakness.

“He worked great this morning,” Casse said. “Today was his big work. I wanted to get a good blow into him, and he galloped out good. He got something out of it. I told [the rider] to get after him a little bit the last part because he does lose a little focus. I had thought about working him with La Cara…she also worked super this morning.”

Casse said Sandman was feeling good after the breeze.

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“He’s usually quiet, but he was standing on his back two legs after the work,” Casse said, with a laugh.

Sandman has been working in blinkers since the Preakness and Casse said that equipment will stay on for the Jim Dandy.

Jason Blewitt, Executive Vice President of West Point Thoroughbreds, was also onsite for the breeze and was pleased with the effort.

“I was able to watch him around the quarter pole. It looks like he’s training super,” Blewitt said. “He trained in a small pair of blinkers, and I think that was his third breeze with blinkers on. He’s trained excellent in them. Having seen him in person today, I think he’s gotten a little longer and stretchier in terms of his physical development.”

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Tracy Farmer’s Kentucky homebred La Cara, a Street Sense bay, was last seen wiring the Grade 1 DK Horse Acorn on June 6 at Saratoga for her second top-flight score having taken the Ashland in April at Keeneland.

Casse indicated last week that La Cara and Nitrogen, who impressed with her off-the-turf score in the Grade 3 Wonder Again here last month, could face off later this meet in the Grade 1, $600,000 Alabama (G1) presented by Keeneland Sales, a 10-furlong main track route for sophomore fillies on August 16.

This story was originally reported by Paulick Report on Jul 5, 2025, where it first appeared.