Wise Dan...Shades of Secretariat ?

    

     Horses...even the best horses...just aren't supposed to do this.  They are not supposed to be capable of coming back from a five month layoff and literally demolishing a good field of older horses, never mind posting mind-boggling internal fractions under the staunchest restraint of a Hall of Fame jockey in the form of John Velazquez, only then to finish in hand while establishing a new track record for the race horse distance of 1 1/8th miles.  But this is what Wise Dan accomplished, and accomplished with consummate ease.

     Making his return to the races in the G3 Ben Ali , Wise Dan faced a very good group of proven graded stakes performers, certainly no easy spot to re-enter the racing wars.  Looking lean and powerful in the paddock, Dan on several occasions displayed his annoyance at the delay in the festivities, throwing his head and acting up, eager to unleash his might.  Breaking with the pack in the 1 1/8th mile contest, he layed about 1 1/2 lengths off the pace after the first quarter, but at this point Dan would have no more of this waiting game and in an instant he swept to the fore, literally dragging Johnny V to the lead, Johnny's legs fully extended at the knees in his attempt to restrain.  On at least two occasions the race replay shows Johnny taking progressively shorter holds of his head-strong mount as Wise Dan threw his mouth open in defiance of the annoying nuisance upon his back.  After his 1st quarter in 24.53, and in spite of this arduous restraint, Wise Dan's 2nd quarter was accomplished in a blistering 22.83 seconds, with his 3rd quarter, equally opposed, in 23.71 seconds.  It was at about this point, near 1/2 mile from home, that Velazquez finally let the chestnut gelding run, and for at least the third time Wise Dan visibly re broke, this time accomplishing his 4th quarter in a smoldering 23.39 seconds as his fluid stride propelled him effortlessly over the Keeneland Polytrack.  Passing the 1/8th pole, with his lead widening with every stride, Velazquez gave no encouragement other than to throw a second cross at his mount as his 6 length lead became 8, 8 then quickly 10, with Wise Dan finally stopping the clock in 1:46.63 while completing his final 1/8th in 12.17 seconds.  Good horses, really good horses, seldom do such things, seldom run such rapid internal fractions, particularly against such restraint, then finish so very strong and willingly.  Bettering the track record by .13 second under these circumstances, it is not beyond reason to consider that Wise Dan could readily have moved up another 4 - 5 lengths with any form of rider encouragement, in so doing shattering the standard to a shade over 1:45.  Hmmm.  Near bolting as he dragged his helpless rider to the front after the first quarter, devastating internal fractions that literally ran his opponents off their feet as they struggled to maintain contact, accelerating again down the stretch while widening effortlessly, a grand chestnut coat with a white blaze...no, hold on here, best not get carried away.  This ain't Pimlico, this wasn't the Preakness, and it's sure not 1973, but as I watched the Ben Ali unfold, my mind truly flashed back to a brilliant performance by one of the greatest of all time.  Shades of the mighty Secretariat!  Thanks for conjuring that wonderful memory, Dan!      

     Only time will tell if Wise Dan has improved this much and is now this good or, as is possible, this was his performance of a lifetime, his ultimate dance on the magnificent stage that is Keeneland.  Regardless, no animal, human nor equine, can give this type of performance unless the innate genetic capability exists within and, of equal importance, this potential has been meticulously and sensitively ripened to fruition by masterful training and conditioning, on this auspicious occasion by Mr. Charles Lopresti.  With brilliant performances off lengthy layoffs by several others in his barn (Turallure, Successful Dan), me thinks this man knows a thing or two about training a racehorse!

                                                                            
                                                                        Murray West