Epicenter goes last to first in Jim Dandy, now targets Travers
SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. - Epicenter ran two terrific races in the Triple Crown series with nothing to show for it except heartache and disappointment.
On Saturday, Epicenter returned to his connections a sense of joy and satisfaction as the colt rallied from last of four to win the Grade 2, $600,000 Jim Dandy Stakes at Saratoga, a win that sets him up for a shot at this meet’s biggest prize, the Grade 1, $1.25 million Travers Stakes here on Aug. 27.
Epicenter beat Zandon by 1 1/2 lengths; it was another half-length back to Tawny Port in third. Early Voting, who defeated Epicenter in the Preakness, faded to fourth after setting what seemed to be a comfortable pace. Western River scratched, having finished fifth in Friday’s $135,000 Curlin Stakes here.
Epicenter came into the Jim Dandy off runner-up finishes to 80-1 shot Rich Strike in the Kentucky Derby and to a fresh Early Voting in the Preakness.
Trainer Steve Asmussen and owner Ron Winchell made the Travers their main summer target with the Jim Dandy as the way to get there.
“After what you felt were two gut-wrenching [losses], I’m just so happy to see him back in the winner’s circle,” Asmussen said. “This spring, this horse ran fast … For him to do it at Saratoga at this time knowing where we are, a month out from the Travers, is very important.”
Regarded as a speed horse early in his career, Epicenter has turned into a horse that is equally, if not more, comfortable coming from off the pace.
Breaking from the rail, Joel Rosario was in no hurry with Epicenter letting him get into the race, but taking him back when things got a little tight entering the first turn.
Epicenter was fourth, about four lengths off the pace, around the turn and Rosario gradually moved him into the two-to-three path down the backside. Meanwhile, Early Voting set the pace - a quarter in 24.22 seconds and a half in 48.28 - while Zandon was to his outside, Tawny Port on his inside.
It wasn’t until the quarter pole that Rosario tipped Epicenter five-wide and into the clear and, without ever using his stick, Rosario just vigorously rode Epicenter past Early Voting at the eighth pole and edged away for the victory.
Epicenter, a son of Not This Time, covered the 1 1/8 miles in 1:48.99 and returned $4.20 as the even-money favorite and getting a 102 Beyer Speed Figure. He added the Jim Dandy to a resume that includes victories in the Risen Star and Louisiana Derby - Grade 2 stakes run at Fair Grounds.
The win also capped a super hour for Asmussen and Rosario, who teamed up one race earlier to win the Grade 1 Alfred G. Vanderbilt with the champion sprinter Jackie’s Warrior.
Asmussen said he was okay with Epicenter being last of four the way the race developed pace-wise.
“Epicenter was carrying him very comfortably down the backside,” Asmussen said. “I was a little concerned how far he was [until] they threw up the middle fractions - they stayed at 12-[second furlongs], they didn’t back it up in his face. He had a shot from there. When he eased him out at the head of the lane, watching the race from way up the stretch, he was traveling pretty.”
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Rosario, who won four races on Saturday’s card, said Epicenter was comfortable being where he was early on.
“It looked like there were a couple of the horses that wanted to go and get a position, so I just let him be where he was happy,” Rosario said.
Meanwhile, Early Voting, making his first start since the Preakness, appeared to be setting comfortable fractions under Jose Ortiz, but could not resist the competition when they came to him in the stretch.
“He carved out fractions that looked modest, however on this tiring track that we’ve seen early in the meet - not to make excuses - but he’s going maybe a little quicker than the time would reflect,” trainer Chad Brown said. “Only time will tell as we exit the race. Unfortunately, he didn’t fight back in the lane, which he’s never not done. We’ll evaluate if he’s just tired or he didn’t handle the track today or he’s now turned into a horse that just prefers a target.”
Brown also trained the Jim Dandy runner-up Zandon, who was making his first start since he finished third in the Kentucky Derby. Brown felt Zandon was closer to the pace than he prefers, and is hopeful the horse will benefit from a bigger field and stronger pace in the Travers.
“I thought I had him tight enough off a layoff, the last stage of the race he didn’t quite have it,” Brown said. “I hope he gets what he needed out of this race as we move forward.”
Brad Cox, the trainer of Tawny Port, said he was proud of his horse’s effort and will decide later whether to run back in the Travers or point to the Pennsylvania Derby on Sept. 25. Cox has Cyberknife, last weekend’s $1 million Haskell winner, pointing to the Travers.