Wicked Strong turned the tables on Grade 1 Belmont Stakes winner Tonalist in the $600,000 Grade 2 Jim Dandy Stakes last Saturday at Saratoga Racecourse.

Wearing blinkers for the first time for trainer James Jerkens, 2/1 shot Wicked Strong showed uncustomary speed and proved unwavering in the stretch to defeat 9/10 choice Tonalist by two and a quarter lengths.

Wicked Strong passed $1 million in career earnings with his initial appearance at Saratoga.

Wicked Strong picked up his second win at the nine furlong distance following the biggest victory of his career in the Grade 1 Wood Memorial Stakes at Aqueduct Racetrack in April of this year.

Wicked Strong ran fourth in both the Kentucky Derby and the Belmont Stakes, in which he finished in a dead-heat with California Chrome, a length and three quarters behind Tonalist.

After that, Jerkens decided to change tactics, adding a slight blinker. The addition had its desired effect as Wicked Strong showed speed while pressing the pacesetting Legend on the outside before taking the lead leaving the turn for home. Tonalist, ridden by Joel Rosario, presented a formidable challenge, but Wicked Strong took command in the final furlong to win impressively under a hand ride.

Tonalist finished second, three and three quarter lengths in front of Kid Cruz with Kentucky Derby runner-up Commanding Curve in fourth.

“He was very aggressive today; he put me in the race, which I was happy about. Tonalist made a bold move, and I thought, ‘It’s going to be a good horse race’ from there and Wicked Strong just dug in and found extra and pulled away at the end,” commented winning jockey Rajiv Maragh.

Maragh said he liked the blinkers on Wicked Strong. “He wasn’t loafing down the backstretch. He was running into a nice rhythm and didn’t go on and off the bridle, which he was doing in his prior starts. He was more focused today and more aggressive.”

“The way he works in the morning, I don’t think Secretariat worked any better than this horse does in the morning,” commented a delighted Jerkens. “I know the talent’s there. It’s just getting him to put it all together.”

Jerkins cited the $1 million Grade 1 Travers Stakes on August 23rd at Saratoga is the next target for Wicked Strong.