Lukas’ Scorpion Defeats Congaree

Scorpion charged past Free of Love and Congaree in the stretch to win the $600,000 Jim Dandy Stakes on Saturday at Saratoga in Saratoga Springs, N.Y.

The D. Wayne Lukas-trained Scorpion, ridden by Jerry Bailey, covered 1 1/8 miles in 1:48 4/5 as an 11-1 longshot.

Congaree, the third-place finisher in the Kentucky Derby and Preakness who won the Grade I Swaps Stakes at Hollywood Park on July 15, finished a tired third in the field of six.

Free of Love took the early lead with Congaree on his outside. Congaree took the lead with five furlongs remaining before being passed by Free of Love in the stretch. Scorpion surged past Free of Love and won by a half-length.

“I thought he deserved a shot in the Jim Dandy,” Lukas said. “The Jim Dandy was our intention all along. We’ll definitely point to the Travers [Aug. 25].”

It was the third win in six starts this year for Scorpion, a 3-year-old colt by Seattle Slew. It also was his first stakes victory.

Trainer Bob Baffert was shocked by Congaree’s showing.

“It looked like he was cruising fine but then all of a sudden, he [jockey Gary Stevens] ran out of horse,” Baffert said. “Gary thinks he might have bled. Maybe the humidity got him. It looked like he was in hand.

“We’ll take him back to the barn and scope him. Congaree just took off with Gary and then he quit running. He didn’t show up. That wasn’t him today. . . . I thought he couldn’t lose today.”

Free of Love finished 5 3/4 lengths ahead of Congaree.

A P Valentine, Indygo Shiner and Kid Rigo completed the order of finish.

Tempera, the 4-5 favorite ridden by David Flores, defeated Respectful by nine lengths in the $150,000 Sorrento Stakes at Del Mar.