Wise Dan could try turf in Firecracker; Successful Dan
possibly out for the year
Following Here Comes Ben’s (Street Cry [Ire]) win in the Kelly’s Landing S.
Friday night at Churchill Downs, trainer Charles Lopresti is focusing on efforts
to get two other stable stars — Morton Fink’s graded winners WISE DAN
(Wiseman’s Ferry) and SUCCESSFUL DAN (Successful Appeal) — headed in positive
directions.
The most immediate concern is Wise Dan, victor of last October’s Phoenix S.
(G3) at Keeneland who ran sixth in the Breeders’ Cup Sprint (G1), where he was
beaten by just 2 1/2 lengths by winner and eventual champion sprinter Big Drama
(Montbrook). Wise Dan is winless in three starts in 2011, although two have been
strong efforts: a fourth-place run in the Commonwealth S. (G2) at Keeneland and
a fourth to Native Ruler (Elusive Quality) and dual Grade 1 winner General
Quarters (Sky Mesa) in a seven-furlong allowance race at Churchill Downs.
A winner on both traditional dirt and synthetic courses, Wise Dan might try a
new surface in his next start. The four-year-old gelding has been nominated to
the $175,000 Firecracker H. (G2) going a mile on Churchill Downs’ Matt Winn Turf
Course. He could end up facing General Quarters yet again in that July 4
contest.
“Wise Dan may come to Churchill on Tuesday and work on the grass,” Lopresti
said. “I’ve never put him on the grass and we’re going to let Julien (Leparoux)
work him. We’ve got him nominated to the Firecracker and I don’t know that we’ll
do that. But we’ll see how he works and go from there.”
Lopresti trains another Firecracker nominee in recent Opening Verse S. victor
TURALLURE (Wando), but said the four-year-old son would probably run next at
Saratoga.
Meanwhile, Lopresti is proceeding cautiously with Successful Dan, who was
disqualified from a victory and placed third in last fall’s Clark H. (G1) at
Churchill. He had scored an impressive win in the Fayette S. (G2) at Keeneland
prior to the Clark.
Lopresti had hoped the five-year-old gelding would emerge as one of America’s
outstanding older horses in 2011, but a longstanding tendon issue has prompted
him to move slowly with his pupil. Successful Dan has had three works at
Keeneland over May and June, but the most recent recorded breeze was half-mile
move on June 7 in :52 2/5.
Dr. Larry Bramlage is monitoring the progress of Successful Dan, and Lopresti
still hopes to see him back in competition sometime down the road.
“Dr. Bramlage has recommended that we give him six more weeks and make an
assessment,” Lopresti said. “I don’t think he’ll run this year, though.”