Turallure and Wise Dan, a pair of Charles Lopresti trainees expected to play major roles in their respective divisions in 2012, had their first works of the year Feb. 16 at Keeneland.
Both 5-year-old horses, working alone, breezed an easy three furlongs on the Polytrack and were clocked at :36 2/5.
“We just let them go an easy three-eighths to get started and we’ll bring them back in about seven to 10 days again,” Lopresti said.
Four D Stable’s homebred Turallure won the Bernard Baruch Handicap (gr. IIT) and $1 million Ricoh Woodbine Mile (Can-IT), and suffered a heartbreaking nose defeat in the TVG Breeders’ Cup Mile (gr. IT) in 2011. Lopresti said the son of Wando is expected to make his season debut in the $300,000 Maker’s 46 Mile (gr. IT) at Keeeland April 13.
Morton Fink’s Wise Dan is expected to be one of the top handicap horses in 2012 after ending last season with a dominant win in the Clark Handicap (gr. I). He also won the Fayette (gr. II) and Presque Isle Mile on synthetic surfaces, and the Firecracker Handicap (gr. IIT) on turf.
The son of Wiseman's Ferry is being pointed toward the $175,000 Commonwealth (gr. II) at seven furlongs April 14 on Polytrack for his season debut.
Lopresti also said Fink’s Successful Dan, a two-time graded winner who missed all of 2011 with an injury, is progressing nicely with his comeback. He could have his first official work this weekend at Keeneland.