Colt, 3 years previous Sandmanwho has constructed up thousands and thousands of supporters by its recognition on social media, competes for one of many greatest summer season Saturday races on New York’s Saratoga race course. He runs on the Jim Dande Stakes, launched by the Mohegan Solar in opposition to the Sovereignty, the winner of the Kentucky Derby and Belmont Stakes.
Can Sandman step up his recreation and defeat the winners of Derby and Belmont? He has to run one of the best race of his life, however the expertise is there and he has already confirmed to be one of many prime horses in his age group. Sandman exploded within the scene on the age of two final summer season, successful his first race in Saratoga with a gaggle that features Griffin Johnson, a social media content material creator with over 14 million followers.
Since then, the story has solely gotten higher for Sandman, Griffin and the gang, with an thrilling subsequent chapter ready for them. Let’s have a look again at 5 highlights from our earlier journeys with Sandman.
1. Sandman wins on the spa! After making his debut with Churchill Downs on July 27, 2024, with Griffin Johnson current, Sandman went to Saratoga on August 10 for a begin. Griffin was not on the observe, however shared his victory over thousands and thousands and his response.
2. It is a scary begin, however what a end! After working in two stakes races within the fall of 2024, Sandman received his second victory at Oak Garden Park in December. It set him up for a begin on the Southwest Stakes on January twenty fifth at Arkansas Monitor.
3. Huge leaping ahead: After the Southwest Stakes, Sandman completed third within the Insurgent Stakes, then began as soon as in considered one of Oak Garden Park’s most well-known races. He put all of it collectively. Sandman received the Arkansas Derby and punched tickets to the 2025 Kentucky Derby with 1000’s of supporters (and watched on TV and cellphones, together with Griffin).
4. Thrilling Derby Week: The Kentucky Derby is restricted to racehorses from three years in the past, so homeowners have just one likelihood to win the race, and solely 20 horses can compete. Sandman made the bottom to attain seventh within the Derby on a sloppy observe he did not care about within the Derby on Might 3, however for the remainder of Griffin Johnson and the Sandman homeowners, the expertise of competing on the planet’s most well-known races is one thing they at all times keep in mind.
5. Return to the right trajectory: Sandman returned after two weeks of relaxation within the second spherical of race Triple Crown. The Might 17 Preakness Stakes at Pimlico was a power he was as soon as once more imposed to get third place by the stretch.
Since Preakness, Sandman has been coaching on the observe. He received his first race, Saratoga, for Jim Dandy. If he runs nicely on Saturday, we’re very more likely to see him once more on August twenty third at Saratoga within the Draft King Stravers Stakes. The very best ones have not arrived but…
