Frammento finishes well in Jim Dandy drill

SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. – Frammento, the fifth-place finisher in the Belmont Stakes, worked a half-mile in 48.24 seconds here Friday, making up three lengths on his workmate, Battle Midway, who most recently was fourth in the Long Branch at Monmouth. Frammento is being pointed to the Grade 2 Jim Dandy here Aug. 1.

Trainer Nick Zito said he liked that Frammento pulled away from his workmate under exercise rider Maxine Correa.

“He tries to hang on a horse when he works in company,” Zito said. “She shook him up and got away from that horse.”

Frammento is one of only five definite starters for the Jim Dandy. The others are Frosted, Japan, Materiality, and Texas Red. Upstart is possible for the Jim Dandy or the Haskell Invitational at Monmouth the following day.

Meanwhile, New York Racing Association officials are concerned about whether next Friday’s $100,000 Curlin Stakes will fill. The Curlin is for 3-year-olds who have not won a graded stakes race going longer than a mile.

Officials are hoping the Curlin attracts two horses from trainer Todd Pletcher (perhaps Tommy Macho and Stanford) as well as Force, Juan and Bina, Smart Transition, and Unrivaled.

Last year, V. E. Day won the Curlin before upsetting the Travers.