Saratoga Notebook, Presented By NYRA Bets: Casse Pleased With Sandman’s Final Jim Dandy Work

Wandering Eyes · 2025-07-16T21:54:33Z

SARATOGA SPRINGS – Hall of Fame trainer Mark Casse wasn't going to lie. There is no joy in facing Sovereignty (Into Mischief), the clear leader of the 3-year-old division. But that doesn't mean Casse isn't chomping at the bit for another chance at the champ.

That comes a week from Saturday when Casse's Sandman (Tapit) takes on the GI Kentucky Derby and GI Belmont Stakes winner in Saratoga's $500,000 GII Jim Dandy.

“I don't know if you ever look forward to facing Sovereignty,” Casse said outside his barn on the Saratoga backstretch Wednesday morning. “He is a very good horse, and, so far, he has shown his superiority over us. I love the challenge.”

Casse will try with the popular grey, who was seventh in the Kentucky Derby, beaten a dozen lengths by Sovereignty. The only other time the two faced each other was last year when Sovereignty won the GIII Street Sense and Sandman was third, five lengths behind.

Sandman, owned by D J Stable LLC, St. Elias Stable, West Point Thoroughbreds and C J Stables, had his final Jim Dandy work on a steamy Wednesday morning, going four furlongs in :49.01 (11/33) with exercise rider Reynaldo Dumont on board.

“Just what we were looking for,” Casse said. “If you look, that is what we have done with him in the past and it has worked out pretty good. He has been on a 10-day schedule. He puts a lot into his gallops. He is not a big, robust horse. He is more of a taller, leaner kind, so he doesn't need near as much as some.”

Casse found this worked for Sandman when he was in Arkansas this winter and had to work the colt around some inclement weather. The more days in between works seemed to be something Sandman adapted well to.

Sandman will be equipped with blinkers for the first time in the Jim Dandy, a decision Casse wrestled with ever since it first came up after his third-place finish in the GI Preakness.

“My concern is it is going to make him a little more aggressive early,” he said. “We will see how he handles this in the Jim Dandy. We know he loves the track. Without a doubt, his most impressive performance as a 2-year-old was here.”

Sandman broke his maiden going seven furlongs by 1 3/4 lengths last summer.

Of Course The Name Is From The TV Show

The name might not mean much to you if you weren't a fan of the original television show, “Hawaii Five-O.”

But, if you were, the 4-year-old whose title is Book'em Danno (Bucchero), makes perfect sense.

In the show, which ran from 1968 to 1980, the main character, Det. Steve McGarrett (played by Jack Lord), usually ended an episode with this catchphrase after they caught the bad guys:

“Book 'em, Danno!”

Book'em Danno wins the True North last month at Saratoga | Sarah Andrew

The owners of the horse, a group of six buddies from the Jersey Shore–Atlantic Six Racing LLC–are of the age when watching “Hawaii Five-O” back in the day was must-see TV.

“I have to give the credit to (partner) Mark Rubenstein,” Atlantic Six Racing managing partner Jay Briscione said by phone Wednesday. “He remembered the show, I remembered the show. In those days, there was not as much to get your attention, so we watched TV. That was one we watched. Book 'em, Danno. Murder One!”

The horse has gotten his fair share of attention because of the name, but also because he can run a little bit. Book'em Danno has won eight of 14 career starts–two of three this year–and will be in Saratoga for Saturday's six-furlong, $400,000 GII Alfred G. Vanderbilt.

In his last start, he won the GIII True North at Saratoga on June 7 over a sloppy track. Two starts ago, he was fourth in a four-horse photo in the GI Churchill Downs. That race was won by the highly regarded Mindframe (Constitution).

Trainer Derek Ryan said he had hoped to ship Book'em Danno from Monmouth Park on Tuesday but the heavy rains caused the New Jersey Turnpike to be closed in some parts. Ryan said Wednesday that he expected the horse to be in Saratoga early Thursday morning.

Briscione, who was in Saratoga, won't be here to watch Book'em Danno on Saturday. He has a good reason for the absence. His youngest son, Geoff, is getting married.

“I told my wife he would understand if I was not there,” Briscione said with a laugh, “but that didn't go over very big.”

Defending Vanderbilt Champ Nakatomi Looks For Rebound

The race was over before it started the last time Nakatomi (Firing Line) ran.

Trainer Wesley Ward hopes his 6-year-old owned by Qatar Racing LLC and Mrs. Fitriani Hay has better luck in Saturday's Vanderbilt ,than he did in last month's True North.

He had a slow start and then had to contend with a sloppy track in the True North. The result was a fifth-place finish as the favorite.

Nakatomi won last year's Vanderbilt | Sarah Andrew

Ward is throwing that race out and moving on to the next. Nakatomi won the Vanderbilt last year when it was a Grade I.

“When you get left at the gate, you kind of want to take them back a little further,” Ward, a former jockey, said by phone from Kentucky. “You hope they burn out in front of you. When he broke slow, (jockey) Irad (Ortiz, Jr.) did not want to give up too much and he had to use him a little bit. It didn't work and it never does. When they broke, I knew that was it.”

Ortiz could not overcome the bad start and Nakatomi was beaten 5 1/4 lengths by Book'em Danno in the True North.

Ward likes that Nakatomi drew the outside post in the eight-horse field.

“We have a great post,' he said. “If the speed hooks up early, we can sit on the outside and kind of watch them.”

Nakatomi will be reunited with Florida-based jockey Emisael Jaramillo, who was on board when he finished second–beaten a neck–in the G1 Dubai Golden Shaheen. Ortiz is riding at Monmouth on Saturday.

Ward said he would prefer more time between races for Nakatomi, but the horse is telling him he is ready to go.

“He shipped in from Keeneland and he was jumping and playing… I don't know if (True North) took any toll on him,” he said. “He acts like everything is good. It's a very contentious race; we'll see what happens.”