Blue Grass (G1) winner Zandon worked on the main track at Saratoga Race Course for the first time Saturday morning for trainer Chad Brown.
With exercise rider Kriss Bon aboard, the Jeff Drown-owned Upstart colt worked four furlongs in :48.69 in preparation for the $600,000 Jim Dandy (G2), a nine-furlong test for 3-year-olds on July 30.
“He worked super,” Brown said. “I wanted to get him out there to stretch his legs. He has been working along down at Belmont. I told Kriss to go in :48 and a couple [of fifths]. Kriss said he felt well. Our plan was to get him over the track and get him a good feel for it. He couldn't have went any better.
Zandon, who won the Blue Grass at Keeneland as part of his spring campaign, has not raced since finishing third in the Kentucky Derby (G1) May 7 at Churchill Downs. Brown said he has noticed some physical improvement in Zandon by giving him some time off from racing.
“I wanted to give him a breather from the racing end of it,” Brown said. “I'm really pleased with him. He put on some weight. He really looks better than ever right now.”
Brown also breezed sophomore stars Early Voting, winner of the Preakness (G1) in May at Pimlico, and unbeaten Grade 1 winner Jack Christopher.
Early Voting, owned by Klaravich Stables, also won the Withers (G3) and finished second in the Wood Memorial (G2) at Aqueduct. He worked four furlongs in :49.25.
Jack Christopher, winner of the Champagne (G1) and the Woody Stephens (G1) Belmont Park, went in :49.80. He is targeting the Haskell (G1) on July 23 at Monmouth Park.
The post ‘He Worked Super’: Blue Grass Winner Zandon Pleases Brown In Saratoga Breeze Toward Jim Dandy appeared first on Horse Racing News | Paulick Report.
