Fourstardave Handicap (gr. IIT) winner Wise Dan turned in his first work back since the Aug. 11 test, blazing a sensational four furlongs in :45.89 Aug. 24 on the Oklahoma turf at Saratoga Race Course.
The work, best of 45 at the distance, was timed for five furlongs in :56 3/5 by trainer Charles Lopresti, with a six-furlong gallop out in 1:10.
"I was looking for a :48 second work, in hand," said Lopresti, who is pointing Morton Fink's 5-year-old son of Wiseman's Ferry to the $1 million Woodbine Mile (gr. IT) Sept. 23. "He's just a freak of nature. You never want a horse to go that fast for his first work after a race, but if you don't have a watch on him, you don't know. He's just galloping."
Alfred G. Vanderbilt (gr. I) winner Poseidon's Warrior , a candidate for the Sept. 1 Forego Stakes (gr. I), worked four furlongs in an easy :49.75 the same morning on the main track.
"It went OK," said trainer Robert "Butch" Reid. "He did his normal thing where he kind of bears out a little bit, but he came back bucking and squealing. We're still in discussion stages about the Forego."
Poseidon's Warrior, a 4-year-old son of Speightstown , picked up the first grade I win of his career for Swilcan Stable when he upset the Aug. 5 Alfred G. Vanderbilt at 36-1. The Forego is a seven-furlong race, and Poseidon's Warrior is 0-for-2 at the distance.
"The question is, do we run in the Forego or wait for the Vosburgh (gr. I) on Sept. 29 at Belmont?" Reid said. "He came off a monster race in the Vanderbilt. I'm debating whether to give him the full eight weeks. We want to make sure he's set up right for the Breeders' Cup. We're waiting to see how the Forego is coming up, but the money is the money, and it's another grade I. We already won one, but we'd like to confirm it."
Donegal Racing's Craving Carats was among other breezers Aug. 24, going five furlongs in 1:00.95 on the main track in preparation for his next engagement, the Aug. 6 With Anticipation (gr. IIT).
The 1 1/16-mile grass race for 2-year-olds became a target for the Dale Romans-trained son of Street Sense after he scored a gate-to-wire turf maiden win Aug. 4 at the Spa. In that race, he beat nine other horses, running 1 1/16 miles in 1:42.96.
Craving Carats is a seasoned runner, with four races under his belt. Romans said he doesn't believe the colt needs the lead to win.
"I don't think so; he was just the fastest in that race," Romans said. "I won't be surprised if he sat off the pace in the With Anticipation. I love Street Sense. I think he's going to be a serious sire. I have three (of his progeny), and they all seem to have quality to me."
Craving Carats made his first two starts sprinting on dirt. He stretched out to seven furlongs for his initial turf start and then scored in his first time going two turns.
"He's such an easy-moving horse," Romans said.
Romans also said that Preakness (gr. I) and Metropolitan Handicap (gr. I) winner Shackleford is on course for his run in the Forego (gr. I). Shackleford will work an easy half-mile Aug. 26 for the race, said Romans, who is blotting out the eighth-place finish in the mud his colt turned in last out in the Vanderbilt.
"I'm just saying it was the mud and keep pushing forward," Romans said.
