Defending Horse of the Year Wise Dan galloped 1 1/8 miles at Keeneland on
Saturday under regular exercise rider Damien Rock as he continued preparation
for a repeat run in the $750,000 Shadwell Turf Mile next Saturday.
In seeking to join Gio Ponti (2010-11) and Dumaani (1995-96) as the only
repeat winners of the Shadwell Turf Mile, Wise Dan brings a nine-race win streak
to Keeneland’s richest race of the meet with the most recent triumph coming in
the Woodbine Mile on September 15 in which he set a course record of 1:31.75 for
the mile.
“He acts like he didn’t even run,” trainer Charlie LoPresti said of Wise Dan,
whose bankroll now exceeds the $5 million mark. “He did it really well and came
back here the morning after the race.”
LoPresti does not plan to work Wise Dan before the Shadwell.
“I don’t really do much with him; the less the better,” LoPresti said as he
watched the six-year-old go through his morning activity. “His stride is just so
efficient. I think he is better than he was here in the spring.”
Wise Dan opened his 2013 campaign with a victory at Keeneland in the Maker’s
46 Mile last spring. A win on Saturday would make him the first horse to sweep
the Maker’s 46 Mile and the Shadwell Turf Mile in the same year.
Wise Dan is among the horses considered as probable
participants when Keeneland kicks off its 17-day meet Friday.
Considered as definite to oppose Wise Dan in the Shadwell Turf Mile are
Silver Max, Skyring, Summer Front and Willcox Inn with Nikki’s Sandcastle,
Sayaad, Turallure and Whatthecatdrugin listed as possible.
Likely for Friday’s Alcibiades for two-year-old fillies are Designer Legs,
Maria Maria, My Conquestadory, Richies Party Girl, Rosalind, She’s Offlee Good,
Sweetsoutherndame, and Thank You Marylou. Possible entrants include Battlefield
Angel, Granny Mc’s Kitten, and Lien On Kitten.
In Friday’s Phoenix, a six-furlong dash for older horses, likely candidates
are Gentlemen’s Bet, Ghost Is Clear, Go Blue Or Go Home, Laugh Track, Laurie’s
Rocket, Marchman, Occasional View, Winning Cause, and Xbalanque. Central Banker
and Console are possible.
Gentlemen’s Bet, winner of
the Iowa Sprint Handicap prior to a third-place run in the Alfred G. Vanderbilt
Handicap at Saratoga last out, prepped for the Phoenix with a half-mile work in :50
2/5 over Churchill Downs’ fast dirt on Saturday. The Ron Moquett-trained
four-year-old son of Half Ours galloped out five furlongs in 1:04 2/5.
In Saturday’s Breeders’ Futurity for two-year-olds, likely entrants include
Arctic Slope, General Jack, Give No Quarter, Laddie Boy, Lunarwarfare, Oogeley
Eye, Solitary Ranger, Tiznowforamerica, and We Miss Artie. Bro Rodrigeaux and
Conquest Titan are possible.
In the First Lady, for older fillies and mares at one mile on the turf,
likely candidates include Better Lucky, Daisy Devine, Dayatthespa, Hungry
Island, Miz Ida, Say, and Solid Appeal. Possibles include Assateague, Samitar,
and Unavailable.
Keeneland stakes coordinator Allison DeLuca reports that Stormofthecentury as
a likely starter Saturday in the Woodford, a 5 1/2-furlong turf sprint for older
horses.
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