Wise Dan has a couple of targets in Bernard Baruch
SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. – One of trainer Charlie LoPresti’s concerns in bringing Wise Dan back to the races in Saturday’s Grade 2 Bernard Baruch Handicap at Saratoga was catching a short field with one loose-on-the-lead horse.
He need not be worried.
When entries closed Wednesday, there were 10 horses entered against Wise Dan, including the speedsters Five Iron and Sayaad. Two of the 10, Lea and Red Rifle, were entered for the main track only.
Wise Dan drew post 5 and will carry 127 pounds in his first start since May 3 and his first since undergoing surgery for colic. He will be spotting eights pounds to Five Iron and 10 to Sayaad, who drew posts 9 and 10.
Five Iron is trained by the Canadian-based Brian Lynch, who is 5 for 14 with four stakes victories in New York this year. In May, Five Iron won the Grade 3 Fort Marcy at Aqueduct, opening up a large early advantage before holding off Summer Front in the stretch.
DRF FORMULATOR FACT: No. 8 Five Iron. Trainer Brian Lynch is 5 for 10 with a $8.89 ROI over the past two years in turf routes on the NYRA circuit. Click for more details. – Mike Hogan
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“Lone speed is always dangerous,” Lynch said. “He is a horse that can open up on the field and let others sit behind him and think he’s going to come back. I think Five Iron goes into the race really good. Going a mile and a sixteenth, he should be a very tough horse to catch.”
Sayaad chased Silver Max in the Fourstardave and was on the lead after six furlongs in 1:09.52 before fading to fifth behind the winner, Seek Again.
“Last time, we lay second to Silver Max, and we went after him a little bit early,” trainer Kiaran McLaughlin said. “Hopefully, we don’t go after Five Iron too early.”
Others entered against Wise Dan include the Gary Barber-owned coupled entry of Boisterous and Bio Pro, Optimizer, North Star Boy, Sky Blazer, and Paris Vegas.
DRF FORMULATOR FACT: No. 4 Wise Dan. Has won 12 consecutive starts on turf; last loss was October 2011 in the Shadwell Turf Mile at Keeneland. Click for more details. – Mike Hogan
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DRF FORMULATOR FACT: No. 1A Boisterous. Trainer Todd Pletcher is 3 for 26 with a $0.45 ROI over the past five years at Saratoga with older horses in graded stakes turf routes. Click for more details. – Mike Hogan
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