Two-time reigning Horse of the Year Wise Dan
worked
on Keeneland‘s turf
course Tuesday morning as he prepares for his next start in the $1 million
Shadwell Turf Mile on October 4.
Clockers caught Wise Dan, with regular exercise rider Damien Rock aboard, in
five furlongs around the dogs in 1:01 1/5.
“I thought he worked really good,” trainer Charlie LoPresti said about the
seven-year-old gelding by Wiseman’s Ferry. “These cones are really far out. He
galloped out good.”
LoPresti said he would determine in the coming days whether Wise Dan will
work again before the Shadwell Turf Mile.
“We’ll just see how he comes out of this one,” he said. “Maybe we’ll work him
on the dirt one more time.”
Wise Dan has run in the Shadwell Turf Mile the past three seasons. In 2011,
the gelding was fourth behind champion Gio Ponti. He won the Shadwell Turf Mile
in 2012 and was second to Silver Max last year when the race was moved to the
main track because of heavy rains.
In 2012-13, Wise Dan went on to win the $2 million Breeders’ Cup Mile.
A homebred racing for Mort Fink, Wise Dan has won 22 races in 30 career
starts and has earned $6,952,920. He has won a record six stakes at Keeneland,
including the Maker’s 46 Mile in April 2013 and 2014.
This year, the gelding next won the Woodford Reserve Turf Classic on May 3
and five days later underwent colic surgery. He returned to competition August
30 with a nose victory in the Bernard Baruch Handicap at Saratoga.
Before Wise Dan’s Tuesday move, two two-year-olds trained by Wesley Ward
breezed in company on the turf. Grade 1 winner Sunset Glow, nominated to the
$400,000 Alcibiades on October 3, covered five furlongs around the dogs in 1:02.
Hootenanny, in his first work since running second in the Prix Morny on
August 24 in France, was clocked in 1:02 3/5. Hootenanny is nominated to the
$250,000 Bourbon on October 5.
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