The Jim Dandy Stakes is an American Thoroughbred horse race. The Grade II race has been held annually since 1964 at Saratoga Race Course in Saratoga Springs, New York. The race is open to horses age three over one and one-eighth miles on the dirt. It currently carries a purse of $500,000. Prior to 1971, the race was 1 mile in length. For 1971 only, the distance was decreased to 7 furlongs.
The Jim Dandy Stakes is usually run on the first Saturday of the late July Saratoga racing season and is named in honor of the 3-year-old colt, Jim Dandy, who won the 1930 Travers Stakes at odds of 100 to 1, beating Triple Crown winner Gallant Fox. The Jim Dandy Stakes is typically used as a preparatory race for the Travers Stakes.
The Jim Dandy was run for the 56th time in 2019.
Records Speed record: miles – 1:47.26 – Louis Quatorze (1996)
Most wins by an owner: 4 – Godolphin Racing LLC (2012, 2020, 2021, 2025) 4 – Repole Stable (2011, 2023, 2024, 2026)
Most wins by a jockey: 5 – John R. Velazquez (2003, 2004, 2005, 2010, 2024)
Most wins by a trainer: 9 – Todd A. Pletcher (2000, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2011, 2013, 2023, 2024, 2026)
Winners Year Winner Jockey Trainer Owner Distance Time Grade2026RenegadeIrad Ortiz Jr.Todd A. PletcherRepole Stable and Robert & Lawana L. Low1:49:08II2025SovereigntyJunior AlvaradoWilliam I. MottGodolphin Racing, LLC1:49.52II2024FiercenessJohn R. VelazquezTodd A. PletcherRepole Stable1:49.15II2023 Forte Irad Ortiz Jr. Todd A. Pletcher Repole Stable and St. Elias Stable1:49.61II2022EpicenterJoel RosarioSteven M. AsmussenWinchell Thoroughbreds1:48.99II2021 Essential Quality Luis Saez Brad H. Cox Godolphin Racing LLC1:49.92II2020 Mystic Guide José Ortiz Michael Stidham Godolphin Racing LLC1:49.00II2019 Tax Irad Ortiz Jr Danny Gargan R.A. Hill Stable, Reeves Thoroughbred Racing, Hugh Lynch & Corms Racing Stable 1:49.28II2018 Tenfold Ricardo Santana Jr. Steven M. Asmussen Winchell Thoroughbreds1:50.49II2017 Good Samaritan Joel Rosario William I. Mott WinStar Farm1:50.69II2016 Laoban José Ortiz Eric J. Guillot McCormick Racing & Southern Equine Stable 1:48.39II2015 Texas Red Kent Desormeaux J. Keith Desormeaux Erich Brehm, Wayne Detmar, Lee Michaels & J. Keith Desormeaux1:48.77II2014 Wicked Strong Rajiv Maragh James A. Jerkens Centennial Farms1:49.16II2013 Palace Malice Mike E. Smith Todd A. Pletcher Dogwood Stable1:47.37II2012 Alpha Ramon Domínguez Kiaran McLaughlin Godolphin Stables1:50.47II2011 Stay Thirsty Javier Castellano Todd A. Pletcher Repole Stable1:48.78II2010 A Little Warm John R. Velazquez Anthony W. Dutrow Edward P. Evans1:47.98II2009 Kensei Edgar Prado Steven M. Asmussen Stonestreet Stables & Gulf Coast Farms1:47.90 II2008 Macho Again Julien Leparoux Dallas Stewart West Point Thoroughbreds1:51.16II2007 Street Sense Calvin Borel Carl Nafzger James B. Tafel1:48.99II2006 Bernardini Javier Castellano Thomas Albertrani Darley Racing1:50.50II2005 Flower Alley John R. Velazquez Todd A. Pletcher Melnyk Racing1:49.50II2004 Purge John R. Velazquez Todd A. Pletcher Starlight Stables1:47.56II2003 Strong Hope John R. Velazquez Todd A. Pletcher Melnyk Racing1:48.10II2002 Medaglia d'Oro Jerry Bailey Robert J. Frankel Edmund A. Gann1:47.82II2001 Scorpion Jerry Bailey D. Wayne Lukas Robert Baker1:48.90I2000 Graeme Hall Jerry Bailey Todd A. Pletcher Melnyk Racing1:48.95II1999 Ecton Park Alex Solis W. Elliott Walden Mark Stanley1:49.52II1998 Favorite Trick Pat Day William I. Mott Joseph LaCombe1:50.00II1997Awesome AgainMike E. SmithDavid HofmansFrank Stronach1:51.16II1996 Louis Quatorze Pat Day Nick Zito Wiliam J. Condren, Georgia E. Hofmann & A. Cornacchia1:47.26II1995 Composer Jerry Bailey William I. Mott Henryk de Kwiatkowski1:51.13II1994 Unaccounted For José A. Santos Flint S. Schulhofer Morven Stud1:49.69II1993 Miner's Mark Chris McCarron Claude R. McGaughey III Ogden Phipps1:49.01II1992 Thunder Rumble Herb McCauley Richard O'Connell Braeburn Farm1:47.53I1991 Fly So Free José A. Santos Flint S. Schulhofer Tommy Valando1:48.88II1990 Chief Honcho Mike E. Smith William I. Mott Bertram R. Firestone1:51.74I1989Is It TrueJosé A. SantosD. Wayne LukasEugene V. Klein1:48.40II1988 Brian's Time Ángel Cordero Jr. John M. Veitch James W. Phillips1:48.20I1987 Polish Navy Pat Day Claude R. McGaughey III Ogden Mills Phipps1:48.40II1986 Lac Quimet Eddie Maple Richard J. Lundy Virginia Kraft Payson1:48.00II1985 Stephan's Odyssey Laffit Pincay Jr. Woody Stephens Henryk de Kwiatkowski1:48.80II1984 Carr de Naskra Eddie Maple Richard J. Lundy Virginia Kraft Payson1:47.40II1983 A Phenomenon Ángel Cordero Jr. Angel Penna Jr. Brownell Combs II1:49.40III1982 Conquistador Cielo Eddie Maple Woody Stephens Henryk de Kwiatkowski1:48.60III1981 Willow Hour Eddie Maple James E. Picou Marcia W. Schott1:49.20III1980Plugged NickleJeffrey FellThomas J. KellyJohn M. Schiff1:49.40III1979 Private Account Jeffrey Fell Angel Penna Sr. Ogden Phipps1:48.40III1978 Affirmed Steve Cauthen Lazaro S. Barrera Harbor View Farm1:47.80II1977 Music of Time Michael Venezia MacKenzie Miller Rokeby Stable1:50.40III1976 Father Hogan Michael Venezia William F. Schmitt Sea Spray Farms1:48.80III1975 Forceten Donald Pierce Neil D. Drysdale Saron Stable1:48.40III1974 Sea Songster Ángel Cordero Jr. John P. Campo Buckland Farm1:50.60III1973 Cheriepe Eddie Belmonte W. Preston King Camijo Stable 1:50.20III1972 Tentam Jorge Velásquez MacKenzie Miller Cragwood Stables1:49.601971 Brazen Brother Michael Hole Warren A. Croll Jr. Jaclyn Stable7 fur.1:22.801970 Personality Laffit Pincay Jr. John W. Jacobs Ethel D. Jacobs1 mile1:35.801969Arts and LettersBraulio BaezaJ. Elliott BurchRokeby Stable1 mile1:36.001968Captain's GigManuel YcazaWilliam W. StephensCain Hoy Stable1 mile1:35.801967 Gala Performance Eddie Belmonte Willard C. Freeman Alfred G. Vanderbilt II1 mile1:36.201966 Indulto John L. Rotz Max Hirsch Jane Greer1 mile1:37.001965 Cornish Prince Ron Turcotte Sylvester Veitch George D. Widener Jr.1 mile1:35.601964MaliciousJohn L. RotzJohn M. Gaver Sr.Greentree Stable1 mile1:35.60
Notes
References Jim Dandy Stakes at the NTRA Whatever happened to Jim Dandy? from Colin's Ghost