Overview

• Sovereignty returns after a seven-week layoff as the favorite following trainer Bill Mott’s confirmation of his peak condition
• The Jim Dandy field features five colts—Sandman, Baeza, Mo Plex and Hill Road join Sovereignty in the Grade 2 prep at Saratoga
• Journalism’s trainer Michael McCarthy says he will decide on the colt’s next engagement only after evaluating Saturday’s performance
• Bob Baffert plans to assess the Jim Dandy before choosing between Goal Oriented and Nevada Beach for his Travers Stakes entry
• HISA’s recent fine and one-day suspension of jockey Umberto Rispoli for excessive crop strikes underscores tighter regulatory enforcement