Although Saturday’s Jim Dandy Stakes at Saratoga is an interesting race, with implications leading into next month’s Travers Stakes, the two most likely winners – Tonalist and Wicked Strong – are the morning-line favorites, and somehow I doubt that Kid Cruz will stick to his 8-1 price as an alternative value play. That makes the Jim Dandy a pass for me. But not so the Amsterdam two races earlier, where a deep field of 3-year-olds is assembled for a 6 1/2-furlong sprint. There, 4-1 shot Captain Serious looks to be a good bet while cutting back in distance after setting the pace and fading to second to Kid Cruz in the 1 1/16-mile Dwyer Stakes on July 5 at Belmont. Going seven furlongs or less, Captain Serious is perfect in three starts, albeit in New York-bred company. But in part, that is why I like him, as those New York-bred beginnings will cause some to underestimate him. :: DRF Live: Get real-time updates and insights from DRF reporters and handicappers starting at 12:30 p.m. ET on Saturday Not this handicapper. He did everything right in winning the seven-furlong Mike Lee Stakes at Belmont on May 31, for example, running in 1:20.99 and earning a 97 Beyer Speed Figure. And the form and figure from that race were validated when runner-up Empire Dreams came back to dominate the New York Derby at Finger Lakes. Captain Serious regressed to a 91 Beyer in his next race, the Dwyer, but he proved his class by going a distance beyond his best to finish a clear second. Being by Successful Appeal, Captain Serious is bred like a horse foaled in Kentucky – and has the bloodlines to sprint. And with the public figuring to support Rock Fall, Coup de Grace, and Noble Moon in the Amsterdam, he should be a fair price. San Diego Handicap Out west at Del Mar, a deep field was drawn for the San Diego Handicap, the local prep for the Pacific Classic, the highlight of that meet. My choice is Frac Daddy, a Polytrack specialist who is seeking to capitalize on Del Mar’s final meet with that synthetic surface before it goes to dirt next year. I’m hopeful that a loss as the heavy favorite in the July 1 Dominion Day Handicap at Woodbine will have people questioning Frac Daddy somewhat. No doubt, he ran below expectations, blowing a clear lead and fading to second against a field he seemed to outclass by lengths. But Ken McPeek is keeping the faith, running him back fairly quickly and in the process suggesting that all is well. If that’s the case, Frac Daddy could run back to his better Polytrack efforts. His better ones are quite good. This is a horse who ran a 103 Beyer in winning the Ben Ali at Keeneland in April on Polytrack and won the Grade 2 Eclipse at Woodbine on June 1, earning a 100 Beyer. Frac Daddy just isn’t one of those horses who runs his ‘A’ race all the time. He is erratic, but at his best, he is the top synthetic performer in the San Diego. Prairie Meadows Handicap Late Saturday night is the Prairie Meadows Handicap, which doesn’t go off until 9:37 Central. Hopefully, staying up for that race will prove rewarding for this horseplayer, who likes Grand Contender. The 5-2 second choice in the wagering, he is a rock-solid competitor when kept away from the top handicap horses in the country. His placement in the Prairie Meadows Handicap is in keeping with his management this season. Grand Contender faces some good horses, led by Cornhusker runner-up Right to Vote, but for the most part, these horses are a cut below graded quality. He seems to have a tactical edge over 2-1 Right to Vote in being drawn outside, thereby applying the pressure as opposed to receiving it. Donoharm, at 6-1 on the line, is a stalker worth using in the exotics with Grand Contender. Second to the top choice in the Lone Star Park Handicap, he had an odds-building race in his latest when never getting involved on the turf at Indiana Downs – a failure that can be forgiven.