Tonalist shifts sights to Jim Dandy

ELMONT, N.Y. – In 2005, the New York Racing Association moved the Jim Dandy Stakes at Saratoga back a week to give horses four weeks to the Travers, the marquee race of the meet. Starting that year, the Jim Dandy has produced seven Travers winners.

That statistic is too much for trainer Christophe Clement to ignore. Clement said the Grade 2, $600,000 Jim Dandy on July 26 – and not the Grade 1, $1 million Haskell Invitational at Monmouth on July 27 – would be the next start for Belmont Stakes winner Tonalist, whose major goal this summer is the $1.25 million Travers on Aug. 23.

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“The idea is to bring him back in the Jim Dandy as a prep for the Travers, subject to approval from Mr. Evans,” said Clement, referring to owner Robert Evans, who is currently away. “I was told that seven of the last nine [Travers] winners came from there – that’s good enough for me. There’s no need to ship him twice.”

The only horse in the last decade to have come out of the Haskell to win the Travers was Summer Bird in 2009. He, like Tonalist, won the Belmont Stakes.

Clement said Tonalist began galloping Monday and likely will remain at Belmont until July 1 before shipping to Saratoga. Clement said Tonalist likely will have three workouts at Saratoga and possibly one before he ships at Belmont leading up to the Jim Dandy.

Clement said his biggest decision would be whether to work Tonalist exclusively on the Oklahoma training track or breeze him once on the main track. Clement works virtually all of his horses on the training track.

“He trained at Payson all winter; they’re very similar,” Clement said.