Good Samaritan produces stunning win in Jim Dandy

Giuseppe the Great 2nd

SARATOGA SPRINGS, NY, July 30, (AP): Trainer Bill Mott said at midweek there were enough reasons for Good Samaritan to try the Jim Dandy Stakes, even though the field included the winners of the Kentucky Derby and Preakness, and even though his horse had never run on dirt.

The big bay stallion responded by delivering a stunning victory Saturday at Saratoga Race Course, storming from way back to the lead coming down the stretch to win the Grade II Jim Dandy, and leaving Derby winner Always Dreaming and Preakness winner Cloud Computing in his wake.

“You saw him coming through the stretch,” Mott said. “It looks like he was good enough to get it done today. He looked pretty good.”

Good Samaritan beat Giuseppe the Great by 4 3/4 lengths as the two long shots in the race finished in front. Always Dreaming was third, Pavel fourth, and Cloud Computing last in the fivehorse field in a race worth $600,000.

Always Dreaming set the early pace, getting out to four lengths, before Cloud Computing drew alongside after closing on the far turn. Good Samaritan was last, 12 1/2 lengths behind Always Dreaming after a half-mile run in 48.53 seconds, and Mott was worried he would not be able to close.

“When they turned down the backside I said, ‘I don’t know how they’re going to catch that horse,’ “Mott said after his fourth win in the Jim Dandy Toyota Team Principal, Finnish Tommi Makinen (center), celebrates with his winners, driver Esapekka Lappi (right), and copilot Janne Ferm (left), of Finland after placing first in the Neste Rally Finland 2017 in Jyvaskyla, central

Finland, on July 30. (AFP)