Saratoga: Vyjack getting ready to restart in Jim Dandy

SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. – A disappointing Triple Crown campaign behind him, Vyjack will look to restore his once-lofty reputation when he runs in the Grade 2, $600,000 Jim Dandy Stakes at Saratoga on July 27.

[SARATOGA 2013: Complete meet coverage, exclusive DRF videos]

Vyjack, 18th in the Kentucky Derby and 10th in the Belmont Stakes, tuned up for the Jim Dandy on Tuesday with a sharp five-furlong work in 1:00.07 over Saratoga’s main track. Working in company and inside of stablemate Colizeo, Vyjack, with trainer Rudy Rodriguez aboard, came home in 24.22 seconds, galloped out six furlongs in 1:12.84 and pulled up seven-eighths in 1:27.08.

“The horse worked very good,” Rodriguez said. “He’s training very good over here. He had a very good work at Aqueduct, too. Let’s keep our fingers crossed.”

Vyjack, a son of Into Mischief, won the first four races of his career, including the Grade 2 Jerome and Grade 3 Gotham. He suffered his first loss when he ran third, one length behind Verrazano, in the Grade 1 Wood Memorial.

In the Kentucky Derby, Vyjack broke from the outside in the 19-horse field and was rank and chased a hot pace early before retreating. In the Belmont, Vyjack was five to six wide the whole way and finished eighth, 10 lengths behind winner Palace Malice, who is also pointing to the Jim Dandy.

“We were wide the whole way around,” Rodriguez said. “Instead of saving a little ground through the stretch we were wide again. I was not disappointed in the way he ran. He looked like he come back good.”

On Tuesday afternoon, David Wilkenfeld, the owner of Vyjack, said John Velazquez would have the mount in the Jim Dandy.

In addition to Vyjack and Palace Malice, others pointing to the Jim Dandy include Freedom Child and Perfect Title.