Wise Dan making progress, yet to resume jogging

Wise Dan, the 2012 and 2013 Horse of the Year, is making progress after a compression fracture to his right front cannon bone was diagnosed last fall, but he has not yet healed enough to resume jogging or galloping, according to trainer Charlie LoPresti.

An 8-year-old gelding, Wise Dan has been tack walking this month at LoPresti’s Keeneland stable in an effort to stimulate blood flow and promote healing, per the recommendation of veterinarian Larry Bramlage.

“He’s heading in the right direction,” LoPresti said Thursday in a text message, but more time under tack was prescribed by Bramlage.

LoPresti and owner-breeder Mort Fink have long said that they wish to take a cautious approach with Wise Dan, not resuming training or racing unless he is deemed 100 percent. He otherwise would be retired.

Perfect in four starts last year, Wise Dan missed the Breeders’ Cup Mile after his injury was discovered following his win in the Shadwell Turf Mile at Keeneland last October. He had won the previous two runnings of the Breeders’ Cup Mile.

This injury was not his only setback last year. In late spring, he had emergency colic surgery, from which he quickly recovered, and he resumed racing in the summer.

A son of Wiseman’s Ferry and out of Fink’s top broodmare, Lisa Danielle, he has won 23 of 31 races and more than $7.5 million.

Wise Dan will be re-evaluated in three to four weeks, LoPresti said via text.