Jim Dandy, Diana go Saturday at Saratoga

There’s $1.7 million in purses on the line this weekend at Saratoga Race Course with four graded-stakes races on tap, including Saturday’s $600,000 Grade 2 Jim Dandy Stakes for three-year-olds and up going 1 1/8 miles on the dirt, and the $600,000 Grade 1 Diana Stakes for three-year old and up fillies and mares at 1 1/8 miles on the turf. Also on Saturday is the $300,000 Grade I Prioress for three-year-old fillies sprinting six furlongs, followed on Sunday by the $200,000 Grade II Amsterdam also for three-year-old fillies at 6 ½ furlongs.

Palace Malice and Mylute will duel in the Jim Dandy

The field for the Jim Dandy is led by 2013 Belmont Stakes winner Palace Malice, who sits as the morning line 5-2 favorite. Fellow Triple Crown contender Mylute (fifth in the Kentucky Derby and third in the Preakness) is listed as the morning line second choice at 7-2.  This will be the fourth meeting of the year for the two colts, and regular riders Mike Smith on Palace Malice and Rosie Napravnik on Mylute are expected to be in the irons. Looking to upset will be Code West (6-1), Moreno (10-1) and Vyjack (12-1).

Center Court wants to bounce back in Diana

The Diana will also see a renewal of old rivalries as Center Court and Stephanie’s Kitten will be meeting for the fifth time. The Diana could be considered the rubber-match between the two fillies, as they have each gained two victories in the previous races. Most recently, Stephanie’s Kitten captured the Grade I Just A Game Stakes in early June at Belmont, where Center Court was fourth. It was the first time Center Court finished worse than second in 11 lifetime starts. Stephanie’s Kitten is the 8-5 choice on the morning line, while Center Court is 5-2.