If he recovers from colic surgery well enough, it looks like Wise Dan will be out six-to-eight weeks (Cecilia Gustavsson/Horsephotos.com)

Two-time Horse of the Year Wise Dan had to undergo emergency colic surgery Friday morning, Claire Novak of the Blood-Horse reports.

The seven-year-old gelding, who was last seen defending his title in hard-fought fashion in the May 3 Woodford Reserve Turf Classic at Churchill Downs, turned in his usual gallop at his Keeneland base on Friday. But shortly afterward, trainer Charlie LoPresti noticed that something was amiss.

"He had a routine gallop, trained great this morning, and about an hour after training he started acting like he was uncomfortable in the stall," LoPresti told the Blood-Horse. "We medicated him and he didn't respond."

Wise Dan was then transported to Rood and Riddle Equine Hospital near Lexington, Kentucky.

"Once we got him over to Rood & Riddle, they ultrasounded him and the vet saw a piece of small intestine he didn't like," LoPresti added.

Wise Dan accordingly went into surgery. As the operation progressed, LoPresti issued an upbeat bulletin, describing it as "the best case scenario for colic" because no resection of the intestine was necessary, and Wise Dan should be able to race again.

"If he recovers from it well, they're thinking six or eight weeks off at the most."

LoPresti called into HRTV early Friday afternoon, by which time Wise Dan was safely out of surgery and resting in a recovery stall.

The problem turned out to be a "piece of small intestine that had flipped over and was causing discomfort," the trainer revealed.