Wise Dan makes amends for Fink, Lopresti in Clark

Wise Dan accelerated away from his rivals in the stretch (Churchill Downs/Reed Palmer Photography) Twelve months ago, Successful Dan was arguably much the best in the Grade 1 Clark Handicap but wound up being disqualified from first to third after a bumping incident in the stretch. His connections, owner/breeder Morton Fink and trainer Charles Lopresti, returned to the scene Friday with half-brother Wise Dan and the four-year-old gelding helped make up for last year’s disappointment, recording a convincing 3 3/4-length victory. John Velazquez picked up the mount for the $572,500 Clark, replacing an out-of-town Julien Leparoux, and Wise Dan completed 1 1/8 miles in 1:48 4/5 over the fast track.

“I was really disappointed last year,” Lopresti said of winning the
race after being taken down last year. “I just didn’t understand why
they took his number down, but they saw it that way and I have to
respect their opinion. I jokingly said surely we don’t get taken down
this year. It’s a dream come true to be back here.”

Wise Dan has now won four of his last five starts, the lone setback being a
fourth-place effort against a top-class field in the Grade 1 Shadwell Turf Mile
two starts previously. He reeled off wins in the Grade 2 Firecracker Handicap on
turf and Presque Isle Mile Stakes on Tapeta prior to the Shadwell, and entered
the Clark off a dominant four-length tally in the Grade 2 Fayette Stakes on
Keeneland’s Polytrack. Despite the recent hot streak, Wise Dan’s ability to
negotiate 1 1/8 miles on dirt at the Grade 1 level remained an unknown and the
betting public sent him off as the 9-2 co-second choice among 13 rivals.

The son of Wiseman’s Ferry broke from post 11 and Velazquez appeared to have
a ton of horse beneath him the entire race.

Will’s Wildcat sprinted to a short
lead after the break, establishing fractions in :23 4/5, :48 1/5 and
1:12 4/5 with Mission Impazible tracking in second and Wise Dan close up on the
outside in third under a snug hold. The pacesetter began to weaken turning for
home and Mission Impazible surged to the front at the top of the stretch, but
Wise Dan was clearly going best on the far outside waiting to hit his best
stride.

Wise Dan proved much the best under the lights (Churchill Downs/Reed Palmer Photography) Velazquez finally gave Wise Dan his cue approaching midstretch and the chestnut quickly hit the front, passing the mile mark in 1:36 3/5 with a one-length advantage. He continued to edge clear in the final furlong. “It was perfect and I was pretty confident going into the race, other than about whether he could go the 1 1/8 miles on the dirt,” Lopresti said. “But I thought he was going to run one of his best races today. I would have been disappointed if he didn’t do it. It looked like the Fayette. It was the same kind of race.”

“I like these pickup mounts,” said Velazquez, who gained the mount on
Animal Kingdom the day before his victory in this year’s Kentucky Derby.
“It worked out perfect. I was on the outside and the trainer (Lopresti)
told me he was going to be pulling pretty strong, but to keep him third
or fourth.

“Right from the start I got him back and he settled pretty good. He was
strong in hand and when I got to the quarter-pole he took off and moved so
smoothly. He was very confident in himself.”

The winner paid $11, $6 and $4.20 to his supporters.

Mission Impazible, a neck runner-up in the Grade 1 Stephen Foster Handicap at
Churchill Downs this summer, turned in another admirable performance under the
Twin Spires, finishing 2 3/4 lengths clear in second as the 7-1 fourth choice.
Flat Out, the near 5-2 favorite, advanced into a threatening position midway on
the far turn but lacked the needed rally in the stretch and wound up third. He
was 1 1/4 lengths better than fourth-placer Mister Mardi Gras, who was followed
by Ruler on Ice, Headache, Alma d’Oro, Will’s Wildcat, Prayer for Relief,
Stately Victor, Demarcation, Pleasant Prince and General Quarters under the
wire.

The Kentucky-bred Wise Dan, who captured the Grade 3 Phoenix Stakes in his
stakes debut as a three-year-old, improved his career record to 14-8-0-0,
$919,601. He is the third stakes winner produced by the Wolf Power mare Lisa
Danielle, the others being Successful Dan and stakes vixen Our Royal Dancer.

This female family is also responsible for German Group 1 hero Scalo and
Grade 2 winner Siphon City. Wise Dan’s fourth dam was Kalila, a half-sister to
French champion and classic winner Val de Loir and Irish champion and dual
classic winner Valoris II.