Trainer Frankel, Empire Maker heavy favorite for Dandy Stakes

SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. (AP) -- Jockey Jerry Bailey isn't counting out the competition just because Belmont Stakes winner Empire Maker is the heavy favorite for the Jim Dandy Stakes.
"This place is notorious for upsets," said Bailey, a seven-time riding champ at Saratoga Race Course. "You can't discount anybody."
Trainer Bobby Frankel opted to keep Empire Maker in Saratoga for the $500,000 Jim Dandy instead of shipping him to Monmouth Park in New Jersey for the $1 million Haskell Invitational, also on Sunday. The horse's rival, Funny Cide, the New York-bred winner of the Kentucky Derby and Preakness Stakes, will run in the Haskell.
Empire Maker is a 3-5 favorite and will start in the sixth post position. He'll carry high weight of 123 pounds.
Frankel has been successful at Saratoga, getting 10 wins, two seconds and two third-place finishes in 28 starts here in 2001. Last year, Frankel had nine wins in 32 starts here, including Medaglia d'Oro's in the Jim Dandy and the $1 million Travers Stakes.