Commandment Installed as Slight Favorite Over Renegade for Jim Dandy Stakes at Saratoga

The 3-year-old division continues to revolve around Golden Tempo, whose relentless late runs captured both the Kentucky Derby (G1) and Belmont Stakes (G1). The colt remains the benchmark for the remainder of the season, though rivals must wait until the Travers Stakes (G1) on August 29 at Saratoga for a direct rematch. Trainer Cherie DeVaux is pointing her star toward that 1 1/4-mile showdown, utilizing the 1 1/8-mile Jim Dandy Stakes (G2) on Saturday (post time 5:44 p.m. ET) as the traditional prep. Four of the last five Travers winners captured the Jim Dandy en route to glory.

Commandment, Renegade Meet for Third Time

A compact field of five will attempt to elevate their profiles this weekend, led by a pair of colts who fell short in the Triple Crown series. Commandment finished second in the Belmont Stakes after a troubled seventh in the Kentucky Derby, while Renegade narrowly missed in the Derby before a dull third in the Belmont at Saratoga.

Both have burned considerable win money, and at least one will do so again Saturday. They remain tantalizing talents who have yet to fully deliver on their promise.

“At this stage, we need to run the table to have any chance to unseat Golden Tempo,” said Todd Pletcher, trainer of Renegade. “If we were lucky enough to do something like that, you could make an argument.”

Renegade drew post 3 and sits at 7-5 on the morning line released Wednesday.

Brad Cox, conditioning Commandment (post 5, 6-5 favorite), was encouraged by the Belmont effort, where his colt trailed Golden Tempo by just 1 1/4 lengths.

“His only real blemish was the Derby, but aside from that he’s been ultra-consistent,” Cox said. “He gave us confidence leading up to the Belmont that he was going to run a big race, and he did. We’ve seen more of the same since then.”

Commandment’s recent workouts at Churchill Downs have been sharp. He breezed five furlongs in 1:00.80 on July 25, a week after a bullet half-mile in :59.40.

“I’m super pleased with what he’s done since the Belmont,” Cox said, “and I think he’s set up for a big race.”

To sharpen his focus, particularly around the turns, Commandment will wear blinkers for the first time.

Pletcher echoed the optimism regarding improvement. “Renegade is much better now than he was going into the Belmont,” he said. “I felt like it took him a little while to bounce back from the Derby.”

Pace Scenario May Benefit Chip Honcho

The pace picture does not favor the two closers, Commandment and Renegade. Neither must contend with Asked and Answered (post 2, 30-1), a winless maiden in six starts who appears overmatched. Silent Tactic (post 4, 6-1), another deep closer, has not raced since finishing second to Renegade in the Arkansas Derby (G2) on March 28. Subpar speed figures and a four-month layoff are significant concerns.

That leaves Chip Honcho (post 1, 3-1), who snapped a four-race losing streak in the Ohio Derby (G3) last time out. While his early pace numbers are modest, they surpass those of his rivals, making him the likely frontrunner by default. However, he fails the class test: he is 0-for-3 at nine furlongs or longer, fading in the final furlong each time, and 0-for-4 in graded stakes company.

The projection here suggests the blinkers help Commandment secure the first run on Renegade, who will chase gamely but fall short. Chip Honcho figures to weaken and hold third.

The Picks: 1 Commandment, 2 Renegade, 3 Chip Honcho

The Field for the $500,000 Jim Dandy Stakes (G2)

1. Chip Honcho (Jose Ortiz, Steve Asmussen), 3-1
2. Asked and Answered (Jaime Rodriguez, Antonio Arriaga), 30-1
3. Renegade (Irad Ortiz, Jr., Todd Pletcher), 7-5
4. Silent Tactic (Luis Saez, Mark Casse), 6-1
5. Commandment (Flavien Prat, Brad Cox), 6-5

Ed McNamara is an award-winning racing writer who has covered the sport since 1981 for The Bergen (N.J.) Record, Newsday, ESPN, Thorocap, and USRacing. He is the author of Cajun Racing: From the Bush Tracks to the Triple Crown and Racing Around the World and a contributor to The Most Glorious Crown and The Racetracks of America. He has also written for racing publications in France and Italy.

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