Wicked Strong strikes in G2 Jim Dandy

A dominant winner of the G1 Wood Memorial Stakes in April, Wicked Strong (Hard Spun) returned to the winner's circle July 26 with a strong win in the G2 Jim Dandy Stakes at Saratoga, defeating some of the top three-year-old talent in the country including G1 Belmont winner Tonalist.

In the one-and-one-eighth-mile race Wicked Strong was forwardly placed in second, right up on the pace. Rounding the far turn he dueled for the lead and at the top of the stretch took over and worked hard down the lane to capture the win at the Spa.

Wicked Strong was a $375,000 Keeneland September yearling purchase and is out of the mare Moyne Abbey, a half-sister to multiple Graded Stakes winner Gulch Approval, Stakes winner and Graded-placed Approval Rating, and Graded Stakes-placed runner Highest Class. The colt was bred by William F. Lynn.

Wicked Strong represents one of four G1 winners for Hard Spun. They are 2014 G1 Jenny Wiley Stakes winner Hard Not To Like, Eclipse Champion Questing, and G1 Mother Goose victress Zo Impressive. A son of Danzig, Hard Spun is the sire of 31 Stakes winners lifetime.