Reigning Horse of the Year Wise Dan breezed a bullet
five furlongs on the Polytrack at Keeneland Saturday in :58 2/5, and he could
make his next start in the Grade 2, $150,000 Firecracker Handicap at
Churchill Downs on June 29.
“He worked very well and galloped out really strong,”
trainer Charlie LoPresti said. “We were very happy with it.”
Mort Fink’s homebred Wise Dan is a half-brother to
Successful Dan, the 2-1 morning-line favorite for Saturday night’s
Stephen Foster Handicap. Successful
Dan’s performance in the Stephen Foster could influence the next race for Wise
Dan.
“We are going to see what happens with Successful Dan,”
LoPresti said. “Right now we are looking at the Firecracker for Wise Dan, but if
we are lucky enough to win the Stephen Foster with Successful Dan then I might
point Wise Dan to the (Grade 1, $750,000) Whitney (at Saratoga on August 3). Whether I would use
the Firecracker as a prep for that race or not is something we’d have to
consider.”
The Stephen Foster and the Whitney are both “Win and You’re
In” races for the $5 million Breeders’ Cup Classic at Santa Anita on November
2.
“If Successful Dan wins then he’s in the Classic and I’d
like to give Wise Dan a chance to run in a Grade 1 on dirt,” LoPresti explained.
Successful Dan, a seven-year-old gelding by Successful Appeal,
and Wise Dan, a six-year-old gelding by Wiseman’s Ferry, are unlikely to face off
anytime soon.
“They’ll be kept apart leading up to the Breeders’ Cup,”
LoPresti stated. “The only chance they’d run against each other is if they both
wound in the Breeders’ Cup Classic.”
Wise Dan and Successful Dan are two of eight winners produced by the Wolf
Power mare Lisa Danielle. The most recent one is
Enchanting Lisa, a three-year-old bay filly by War Chant who won her career
debut by seven lengths on Wednesday at Presque Isle Downs.
LoPresti said no plans have been made for Enchanting Lisa’s
next race, but she likely will be a part of the string he will take to Saratoga.
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