Rowayton targeting Curlin rather than Jim Dandy

SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. – Trainer Don Chatlos said Friday’s Curlin rather than the Jim Dandy the following afternoon would be next up for Rowayton coming out of his third-place finish in the Grade 3 Dwyer last month at Belmont Park. Rowayton tuned up for the 1 1/8-mile Curlin by breezing five furlongs in 1:02.58 before galloping out three-quarters in 1:16.42 with jockey Joel Rosario aboard over the main track here Friday.

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“We wanted him to start off easy, 13 and change that first eighth, and finish up like he did the last quarter,” said Chatlos, who trains Rowayton for OXO Equine. “We chose the Curlin over the Jim Dandy because this race is restricted and we’re using it to see which way to go next, either the Allen Jerkens or the Travers. We’ll get a better idea of that by running in this race rather than against Tacitus, War of Will, and Code of Honor again in the Jim Dandy.”

The Grade 1, seven-furlong Allen Jerkens and the Grade 1, 1 1/4-mile Travers will be run on the same card here Aug. 24.