Wise Dan back on turf for five-furlong workout

LOUISVILLE, Ky. – Until his five-furlong workout over the Keeneland turf Tuesday, Wise Dan almost exclusively had been training over dirt. His five prior works came on dirt.

“I sure don’t want anybody jumping to conclusions because of that,” trainer Charlie LoPresti said shortly after Wise Dan, Morton Fink’s reigning two-time Horse of the Year, breezed Tuesday at the Lexington, Ky., track.

“I’ve only kept him on the dirt for one main reason: fitness,” said LoPresti. “It pulls on him better than the turf does. But I don’t want anybody to think we’re considering the Breeders’ Cup Classic because right now, we aren’t. I mean, we’re only taking one race at a time, but I honestly haven’t thought at all about the Classic.”

With regular exercise rider Damien Rock aboard and with traffic cones placed far out onto the course, Wise Dan was timed in 1:01.20 in his Tuesday breeze over firm going. Both LoPresti and the Keeneland clockers caught him in less than 24 seconds for the final quarter-mile, which was followed by a vigorous gallop-out.

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LoPresti said the workout “may or may not be” the final serious move for Wise Dan leading into the Grade 1, $1 million Shadwell Turf Mile on Oct. 4 during the opening Fall Stars Weekend at Keeneland.

“I’ll see how he’s doing and maybe blow him out a little early in the week,” said LoPresti.

Wise Dan, 3 for 3 in a 2014 campaign interrupted by emergency colic surgery in May, figures as a strong favorite when going for his 14th victory from his last 15 starts in the 29th Shadwell, which has undergone a purse increase and will be the richest race in track history. Keeneland racing officials said they are expecting a handful of other older horses, including Silver Max, Kaigun, Optimizer, Sayaad, and Za Approval.

LoPresti said a three-peat in the Breeders’ Cup Mile at Santa Anita remains the post-Shadwell goal for Wise Dan. The 7-year-old gelding has thrived on the new Keeneland dirt surface, he said.

“He’s training better now on dirt than he ever has,” he said. “I’m well aware there’s been some attrition in the older horse ranks, and some people think this might be a good time to go for the Classic, but we’re not thinking about that right now.”

Meanwhile, Keeneland officials said they are trying to hustle horses to face the heavily favored Close Hatches in the Oct. 5 Juddmonte Spinster Stakes, the last of five Grade 1 races scheduled for the opening three-day weekend. At this early juncture, only Don’t Tell Sophia and Molly Morgan are confirmed as opponents despite a total of 17 fillies and mares nominated to the 1 1/8-mile race.

Keeneland opens its 17-day fall meet Oct. 3 with the Grade 1 Darley Alcibiades and Grade 3 Phoenix. Seven of the nine Fall Stars stakes are Win and You’re In events toward the Breeders’ Cup, and all are graded.