Horse of the Year Wise Dan, who won the Maker's 46 Mile (gr. IT)) on the Keeneland turf in his 2013 debut, breezed five furlongs in a bullet :59 3/5 over the main track April 24. The time was the fastest of the 14 workers at the distance.
The work was the first for the 6-year-old Wiseman's Ferry gelding since his one-length triumph over Data Link in the April 12 Maker's 46 Mile.
"I just wanted to work him one time and see how he worked and how his fitness level was," Keeneland-based trainer Charlie LoPresti said. "He worked really good today."
Wise Dan was ridden by exercise rider Damien Rock. Clockers caught the gelding in fractions of :11 3/5, :22 2/5, :34 1/5, :46 2/5, and :59 3/5. The big chestnut galloped out in 1:13 1/5 and 1:27 3/5.
LoPresti said he would talk to Wise Dan's breeder and owner, Mort Fink, to determine future plans for the Horse of the Year and for his year-older half brother, Successful Dan.
Successful Dan returned to competition April 21 with a one-length victory in the Ben Ali Stakes (gr. III), a race Wise Dan won in record time a year ago. The race marked Successful Dan's first start since June 30. Both horses are under consideration for the $500,000 Stephen Foster Handicap (gr. I) June 15 at Churchill Downs.
"We really haven't made a plan yet, but I'm going to talk to (Fink) this morning and see how (Wise Dan) comes out of this," LoPresti said. "Successful Dan will go back to the track tomorrow, and we'll try to figure out what we're doing.
"At this point, we're trying to just enjoy the races we've won."
Wise Dan's most recent triumph improved his career mark to 14 wins from 21 starts with earnings of $3,727,638.
