Presque Isle: Wise Dan sharp in Mile score

Wise Dan was kept just off a slow early pace and wore down front-running Jimmy Simms to win the $250,000 Presque Isle Mile on Friday evening.

Jockey Jon Court kept Wise Dan within a few lengths and to the outside of the pacesetting Jimmy Simms to the far turn. Court moved Wise Dan closer on the final turn, then was up to win by a comfortable half-length.

Jimmy Simms, under Rajiv Maragh, set fractions of 24.24 , 47.45, and 1.11.15 over the Tapeta surface but had to settle for second, a length and a half in front of Stunning Stag in third. Favored Noble’s Promise was difficult to load in the gate, raced up close early, and then faded to finish seventh.

Charlie Lopresti trains Wise Dan, who in his previous start won the Grade 2 Firecracker Handicap at Churchill Downs on turf for owner Morton Fink.

“It was pretty much a carbon copy of his Firecracker win,” Lopresti said. “When Jon asked him to run in the stretch he responded.”

Court was ecstatic after the race.

“It all came together like a well-orchestrated plan,” he said. “I was worried about the slow pace, but picked a spot and he finished the best.”

Wise Dan completed the mile in 1:35.63 and paid $9.40 in the 11-horse field.

Lopresti plans to run Wise Dan Next in the Shadwell Mile on turf at Keeneland. The Grade 1, $600,000 Shadwell Mile will be run on turf Oct. 8 and is a Win and You're In for the Breeders' Cup Mile.

“As long as he comes back okay we are going to look at the Shadwell Mile and Keeneland,” Loprestis said. “He showed he loves the turf in the Firecracker. We’ll see how he does at Keeneland and go from there.”